Sterol metabolism enzymes

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to an isolated nucleic acid fragment encoding a sterol metabolism enzyme. The invention also relates to the construction of a chimeric gene encoding all or a portion of the sterol metabolism enzyme, in sense or antisense orientation, wherein expression of the chimeric gene results in production of altered levels of the sterol metabolism enzyme in a transformed host cell.

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/109,283, filed Nov. 20, 1998.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention is in the field of plant molecular biology. More specifically, this invention pertains to nucleic acid fragments encoding sterol metabolism enzymes in plants and seeds.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Conversion of 7-dehydrocholesterol to cholesterol is the last reaction in the cholesterol biosynthesis pathway catalyzed by the microsomal enzyme 7-dehydrocholesterol-delta 7 reductase (EC 1.3.1.21). Inhibiting the last step in cholesterol biosynthesis profoundly reduces tissue and plasma cholesterol concentrations and accumulates precursors that substantially slow hepatoma growth. Inhibiting late cholesterol synthesis also hinders the growth of rapidly enlarging malignant tumors (Xu, G. et al. (1996) Hepatology 24:440-445). Analyses of the cDNA encoding the human delta 7 sterol reductase shows that this enzyme is a membrane-bound protein containing 6 to 9 putative transmembrane segments and is structurally related to plant and yeast sterol reductases. The delta 7 sterol reductase is absent from yeast. Microsomes from Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains heterologously expressing the human delta 7 reductase cDNA remove the C7-8 double bond in 7-dehydrocholesterol in a NADPH-dependent manner (Moebius, F. F. et al. (1998) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 95:1899-1902).

[0004] A microsomal preparation from seedlings of Zea mays catalyzed the NADPH-dependent reduction of the delta 7 bond of delta 5,7 cholestadienol giving the first in vitro evidence of the intermediacy of delta 5,7 sterols in plant sterol biosynthesis. In vitro inhibition of the plant delta 5,7 sterol delta 7 reductase by ammonium ion-containing fungicides was consistent with the previously proposed cationic mechanism involved in this reduction reaction (Taton, M. and Rahier, A. (1991) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 181:465-473). The NADPH-sterol delta-7 reductase from Arabidopsis thaliana has been cloned. The corresponding protein has significant sequence similarity with yeast delta 14 and delta 24 reductases and with human lamin B receptor. This protein is capable of efficiently reducing in vivo delta-5,7-ergosta- and cholesta-sterols, regardless of the structural variations on the side chain. The delta 7 reductase activity is preferentially associated with the endoplasmic reticulum membrane and uses NADPH as the reducing agent (Lecain, E. et al. (1996) J. Biol. Chem. 271:10866-10873).

[0005] Regulation of sterol biosynthesis in the terminal portion of the pathway represents an efficient mechanism by which the cell can control the production of sterol without disturbing the production of other essential mevalonate pathway products. Expression of ERG3, the gene encoding sterol C-5 desaturase, is increased in response to a mutation in the major isoform of HMG-CoA reductase which catalyzes the rate-limiting step of sterol biosynthesis. Mutations in non-auxotropic ergosterol biosynthetic genes downstream of squalene production result in an up-regulation of ERG3 expression. Absence of sterol esterification leads to a decrease in total intracellular sterol and ERG3 is a target of this negative regulation (Arthington-Skaggs, B. A. et al. (1996) FEBS Lett. 392:161-165). ERG3 is the structural gene in Saccharomyces cerevisiae for the sterol delta 5 desaturase that introduces the C5=6 unsaturation in ergosterol biosynthesis. Inactivated mutants of ERG3 fail to grow without added levels of delta 5 sterols in heme-deficient cells, and are unable to grow on the respiratory substrates glycerol and ethanol (Smith, S. J. and Parks, L. W. (1993) Yeast 9:1177-1187). A construct containing the promoter for the ERG3 gene fused to the bacterial lacZ reporter gene was placed in strains making aberrant sterols, and the effect of altered sterol composition on gene expression was monitored by beta-galactosidase activity. The absence of ergosterol resulted in a 35-fold increase in the expression of ERG3 as measured by beta-galactosidase activity. The level of ERG3 mRNA was increased as much as 9-fold in erg-mutant strains or wild-type strains inhibited in ergosterol biosynthesis by antifingal agents. The observed regulatory effects of ergosterol on ERG3 are specific for ergosterol, as several ergosterol derivatives failed to elicit the same controlling effect. These results demonstrate that ergosterol exerts a regulatory effect on gene transcription in S. cerevisiae (Smith, S. J. et al. (1996) Mol. Cell Biol. 16:5427-5432). A human cDNA clone homologous to fungal ERG3, a gene encoding sterol C-5 desaturase has been isolated. This gene is expressed in all normal human tissues examined (Matusushima, M. et al. (1996) Cytogent. Cell Genet. 74:252-254).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The present invention relates to isolated polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide of at least 30 amino acids that has at least 84% identity based on the Clustal method of alignment when compared to a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of a corn sterol delta-7 reductase polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:2, a rice sterol delta-7 reductase polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:4, a soybean sterol delta-7 reductase polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:6, a wheat sterol delta-7 reductase polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:8, or a corn sterol-C5 desaturase polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:2, a rice sterol-C5 desaturase polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:4, a soybean sterol-C5 desaturase polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:6, a wheat sterol-C5 desaturase polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:8. The present invention also relates to an isolated polynucleotide comprising the complement of the nucleotide sequences described above.

[0007] The present invention relates to isolated polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide of at least 30 amino acids that has at least 84% identity based on the Clustal method of alignment when compared to a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs:10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28 and 30. The present invention also relates to an isolated polynucleotide comprising the complement of the nucleotide sequences described above.

[0008] It is preferred that the isolated polynucleotides of the claimed invention consists of a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs:1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, and 29 that codes for the polypeptide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs:2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, and 30. The present invention also relates to an isolated polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequences of at least one of 40 (preferably at least one of 30) contiguous nucleotides derived from a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs:1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, and 29 and the complement of such nucleotide sequences.

[0009] The present invention relates to a chimeric gene comprising an isolated polynucleotide of the present invention operably linked to suitable regulatory sequences.

[0010] The present invention relates to an isolated host cell comprising a chimeric gene of the present invention or an isolated polynucleotide of the present invention. The host cell may be eukaryotic, such as a yeast or a plant cell, or prokaryotic, such as a bacterial cell. The present invention also relates to a virus, preferably a baculovirus, comprising an isolated polynucleotide of the present invention or a chimeric gene of the present invention.

[0011] The present invention relates to a process for producing an isolated host cell comprising a chimeric gene of the present invention or an isolated polynucleotide of the present invention, the process comprising either transforming or transfecting an isolated compatible host cell with a chimeric gene or isolated polynucleotide of the present invention.

[0012] The present invention relates to a sterol delta-7 reductase or a sterol-C5 desaturase polypeptide of at least 30 amino acids comprising at least 84% homology based on the Clustal method of alignment compared to a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, and 30.

[0013] The present invention relates to a method of selecting an isolated polynucleotide that affects the level of expression of a sterol delta-7 reductase or a sterol-C5 desaturase polypeptide in a host cell, preferably a plant cell, the method comprising the steps of:

[0014] constructing an isolated polynucleotide of the present invention or an isolated chimeric gene of the present invention;

[0015] introducing the isolated polynucleotide or the isolated chimeric gene into a host cell;

[0016] measuring the level a sterol delta-7 reductase or a sterol-C5 desaturase polypeptide in the host cell containing the isolated polynucleotide; and

[0017] comparing the level of a sterol delta-7 reductase or a sterol-C5 desaturase polypeptide in the host cell containing the isolated polynucleotide with the level of a sterol delta-7 reductase or a sterol-C5 desaturase polypeptide in a plant cell that does not contain the isolated polynucleotide.

[0018] The present invention relates to a method of obtaining a nucleic acid fragment encoding a substantial portion of a sterol delta-7 reductase or a sterol-C5 desaturase polypeptide gene, preferably a plant sterol delta-7 reductase or a sterol-C5 desaturase polypeptide gene, comprising the steps of: synthesizing an oligonucleotide primer comprising a nucleotide sequence of at least one of 40 (preferably at least one of 30) contiguous nucleotides derived from a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs:1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, and 29 and the complement of such nucleotide sequences; and amplifying a nucleic acid fragment (preferably a cDNA inserted in a cloning vector) using the oligonucleotide primer. The amplified nucleic acid fragment preferably will encode a portion of a sterol delta-7 reductase or a sterol-C5 desaturase amino acid sequence.

[0019] The present invention also relates to a method of obtaining a nucleic acid fragment encoding all or a substantial portion of the amino acid sequence encoding a sterol delta-7 reductase or a sterol-C5 desaturase polypeptide comprising the steps of: probing a cDNA or genomic library with an isolated polynucleotide of the present invention; identifying a DNA clone that hybridizes with an isolated polynucleotide of the present invention; isolating the identified DNA clone; and sequencing the cDNA or genomic fragment that comprises the isolated DNA clone.

[0020] A further embodiment of the instant invention is a method for evaluating at least one compound for its ability to inhibit the activity of a sterol delta-7 reductase or a sterol-C5 desaturase, the method comprising the steps of: (a) transforming a host cell with a chimeric gene comprising a nucleic acid fragment encoding a sterol delta-7 reductase or a sterol-C5 desaturase, operably linked to suitable regulatory sequences; (b) growing the transformed host cell under conditions that are suitable for expression of the chimeric gene wherein expression of the chimeric gene results in production of sterol delta-7 reductase or a sterol-C5 desaturase in the transformed host cell; (c) optionally purifying the sterol delta-7 reductase or a sterol-C5 desaturase expressed by the transformed host cell; (d) treating the sterol delta-7 reductase or a sterol-C5 desaturase with a compound to be tested; and (e) comparing the activity of the sterol delta-7 reductase or a sterol-C5 desaturase that has been treated with a test compound to the activity of an untreated sterol delta-7 reductase or a sterol-C5 desaturase, thereby selecting compounds with potential for inhibitory activity.

[0021] The present invention relates to a composition comprising the isolated polynucleotide of the present invention.

[0022] The present invention relates to a composition comprising a polypeptide of the present invention.

[0023] The present invention relates to an expression cassette comprising an isolated polynucleotide of the present invention operably linked to a promoter.

[0024] The present invention relates to a method for positive selection of a transformed cell comprising:

[0025] (a) transforming a plant cell, preferably a monocot or a dicot, with a chimeric gene of the present invention or an expression cassette of the present invention; and

[0026] (b) growing the transformed plant under conditions allowing expression of the polynucleotide in an amount sufficient to modify the amount of sterol in the cell to provide a positive selection means.

[0027] The present invention relates to the method of the present invention, wherein the plant cell is a monocot.

[0028] The present invention relates to the method of the present invention, wherein the plant cell is a dicot.

[0029] As used herein, the following terms shall apply:

[0030] “Sterol metabolism enzymes” refers to sterol delta-7 reductase and/or steorl-C5 desaturase.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS AND SEQUENCE DESCRIPTIONS

[0031] The invention can be more fully understood from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings and Sequence Listing which form a part of this application.

[0032]FIG. 1 shows a comparison of the amino acid sequences of the corn, rice, soybean, and wheat (SEQ ID NOs:2, 18, 20, and 22, respectively) sterol delta-7 reductases compared to the Arabidopsis thaliana enzyme (SEQ ID NO:31, Genbank Accession No. 1245182).

[0033]FIG. 2 shows a comparison of the amino acid sequences of the corn, rice, soybean, and wheat (SEQ ID NOs:24, 26, 28, and 30, respectively) sterol-C-5 desaturases compared to the Nicotiana tabacum enzymes (SEQ ID NOs:32 and 33, Genbank Accession Nos. 2226627 and 4140398, respectively).

[0034] Table 1 lists the polypeptides that are described herein, the designation of the cDNA clones that comprise the nucleic acid fragments encoding polypeptides representing all or a substantial portion of these polypeptides, and the corresponding identifier (SEQ ID NO:) as used in the attached Sequence Listing. The sequence descriptions and Sequence Listing attached hereto comply with the rules governing nucleotide and/or amino acid sequence disclosures in patent applications as set forth in 37 C.F.R. §1.821-1.825. TABLE 1 Sterol Metabolism Enzymes SEQ ID NO: Protein Plant [Species] Clone Designation (Nuc) (AA) Sterol delta-7 reductase maize [Zea mays] contig of: 1 2 cep7.pk0018.a6, cep7.pk0019.a3 Sterol delta-7 reductase rice [Oryza sativa] rl0n.pk083 a21 3 4 Sterol delta-7 reductase soybean [Glycine max] sfl1.pk0030.b7 5 6 Sterol delta-7 reductase wheat-common wl1n.pk0001.g5 7 8 [Triticum aestivum] Sterol-C5-desaturase maize [Zea mays] ceb5.pk0078.d4 9 10 Sterol-C5-desaturase rice [Oryza sativa] rlr2.pk0028.c11 11 12 Sterol-C5-desaturase soybean [Glycine max] sfl1.pk0107.g5 13 14 Sterol-C5-desaturase wheat-common wr1pk0107.a5 15 16 [Triticum aestivum] Sterol delta-7 reductase rice [Oryza sativa] rl0n.pk083.a21:fis 17 18 Sterol delta-7 reductase soybean [Glycine max] sfl1.pk0030.b7:fis 19 20 Sterol delta-7 reductase wheat-common wl1n.pk0001.g5:fis 21 22 [Triticum aestivum] Sterol-C5-desaturase maize [Zea mays] cta1n.pk0078.cl:fis 23 24 Sterol-C5-desaturase rice [Oryza sativa] rlr2.pk0028c11:fis 25 26 Sterol-C5-desaturase soybean [Glycine max] sfl1.pk1017.g5:fis 27 28 Sterol-C5-desaturase wheat-common wr1.pk0107.a5:fis 29 30 [Triticum aestivum]

[0035] The Sequence Listing contains the one letter code for nucleotide sequence characters and the three letter codes for amino acids as defined in conformity with the IUPAC-IUBMB standards described in Nucleic Acids Res. 13:3021-3030 (1985) and in the Biochemical J, 219 (No. 2):345-373 (1984) which are herein incorporated by reference. The symbols and format used for nucleotide and amino acid sequence data comply with the rules set forth in 37 C.F.R. §1.822.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0036] In the context of this disclosure, a number of terms shall be utilized. As used herein, a “polynucleotide” is a nucleotide sequence such as a nucleic acid fragment. A polynucleotide may be a polymer of RNA or DNA that is single- or double-stranded, that optionally contains synthetic, non-natural or altered nucleotide bases. A polynucleotide in the form of a polymer of DNA may be comprised of one or more segments of cDNA, genomic DNA, or synthetic DNA. An isolated polynucleotide of the present invention may include at least one of 60 contiguous nucleotides, preferably at least one of 40 contiguous nucleotides, most preferably one of at least 30 contiguous nucleotides, of the nucleic acid sequence of the SEQ ID NOs:1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, and the complement of such sequences.

[0037] As used herein, “contig” refers to a nucleotide sequence that is assembled from two or more constituent nucleotide sequences that share common or overlapping regions of sequence homology. For example, the nucleotide sequences of two or more nucleic acid fragments can be compared and aligned in order to identify common or overlapping sequences. Where common or overlapping sequences exist between two or more nucleic acid fragments, the sequences (and thus their corresponding nucleic acid fragments) can be assembled into a single contiguous nucleotide sequence.

[0038] As used herein, “substantially similar” refers to nucleic acid fragments wherein changes in one or more nucleotide bases results in substitution of one or more amino acids, but do not affect the functional properties of the polypeptide encoded by the nucleotide sequence. “Substantially similar” also refers to nucleic acid fragments wherein changes in one or more nucleotide bases does not affect the ability of the nucleic acid fragment to mediate alteration of gene expression by gene silencing through for example antisense or co-suppression technology. “Substantially similar” also refers to modifications of the nucleic acid fragments of the instant invention such as deletion or insertion of one or more nucleotides that do not substantially affect the functional properties of the resulting transcript vis-a-vis the ability to mediate gene silencing or alteration of the functional properties of the resulting protein molecule. It is therefore understood that the invention encompasses more than the specific exemplary nucleotide or amino acid sequences and includes functional equivalents thereof.

[0039] Substantially similar nucleic acid fragments may be selected by screening nucleic acid fragments representing subfragments or modifications of the nucleic acid fragments of the instant invention, wherein one or more nucleotides are substituted, deleted and/or inserted, for their ability to affect the level of the polypeptide encoded by the unmodified nucleic acid fragment in a plant or plant cell. For example, a substantially similar nucleic acid fragment representing at least one of 30 contiguous nucleotides derived from the instant nucleic acid fragment can be constructed and introduced into a plant or plant cell. The level of the polypeptide encoded by the unmodified nucleic acid fragment present in a plant or plant cell exposed to the substantially similar nucleic fragment can then be compared to the level of the polypeptide in a plant or plant cell that is not exposed to the substantially similar nucleic acid fragment.

[0040] For example, it is well known in the art that antisense suppression and co-suppression of gene expression may be accomplished using nucleic acid fragments representing less than the entire coding region of a gene, and by nucleic acid fragments that do not share 100% sequence identity with the gene to be suppressed. Moreover, alterations in a nucleic acid fragment which result in the production of a chemically equivalent amino acid at a given site, but do not effect the functional properties of the encoded polypeptide, are well known in the art. Thus, a codon for the amino acid alanine, a hydrophobic amino acid, may be substituted by a codon encoding another less hydrophobic residue, such as glycine, or a more hydrophobic residue, such as valine, leucine, or isoleucine. Similarly, changes which result in substitution of one negatively charged residue for another, such as aspartic acid for glutamic acid, or one positively charged residue for another, such as lysine for arginine, can also be expected to produce a functionally equivalent product. Nucleotide changes which result in alteration of the N-terminal and C-terminal portions of the polypeptide molecule would also not be expected to alter the activity of the polypeptide. Each of the proposed modifications is well within the routine skill in the art, as is determination of retention of biological activity of the encoded products. Consequently, an isolated polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence of at least one of 60 (preferably at least one of 40, most preferably at least one of 30) contiguous nucleotides derived from a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs:1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, and 29 and the complement of such nucleotide sequences may be used in methods of selecting an isolated polynucleotide that affects the expression of a polypeptide in a host cell. A method of selecting an isolated polynucleotide that affects the level of expression of a polypeptide (such as a sterol metabolism enzyme) in a host cell (eukaryotic, such as plant or yeast, prokaryotic such as bacterial, or viral) may comprise the steps of: constructing an isolated polynucleotide of the present invention or an isolated chimeric gene of the present invention; introducing the isolated polynucleotide or the isolated chimeric gene into a host cell; measuring the level a polypeptide in the host cell containing the isolated polynucleotide; and comparing the level of a polypeptide in the host cell containing the isolated polynucleotide with the level of a polypeptide in a host cell that does not contain the isolated polynucleotide.

[0041] Moreover, substantially similar nucleic acid fragments may also be characterized by their ability to hybridize. Estimates of such homology are provided by either DNA-DNA or DNA-RNA hybridization under conditions of stringency as is well understood by those skilled in the art (Hames and Higgins, Eds. (1985) Nucleic Acid Hybridisation, IRL Press, Oxford, U.K.). Stringency conditions can be adjusted to screen for moderately similar fragments, such as homologous sequences from distantly related organisms, to highly similar fragments, such as genes that duplicate functional enzymes from closely related organisms. Post-hybridization washes determine stringency conditions. One set of preferred conditions uses a series of washes starting with 6×SSC, 0.5% SDS at room temperature for 15 min, then repeated with 2×SSC, 0.5% SDS at 45° C. for 30 min, and then repeated twice with 0.2×SSC, 0.5% SDS at 50° C. for 30 min. A more preferred set of stringent conditions uses higher temperatures in which the washes are identical to those above except for the temperature of the final two 30 min washes in 0.2×SSC, 0.5% SDS was increased to 60° C. Another preferred set of highly stringent conditions uses two final washes in 0.1×SSC, 0.1% SDS at 65° C.

[0042] Substantially similar nucleic acid fragments of the instant invention may also be characterized by the percent identity of the amino acid sequences that they encode to the amino acid sequences disclosed herein, as determined by algorithms commonly employed by those skilled in this art. Suitable nucleic acid fragments (isolated polynucleotides of the present invention) encode polypeptides that are at least 70% identical, preferably 80% identical to the amino acid sequences reported herein. Preferred nucleic acid fragments encode amino acid sequences that are at least 85% identical to the amino acid sequences reported herein. More preferred nucleic acid fragments encode amino acid sequences that are at least 90% identical to the amino acid sequences reported herein. Most preferred are nucleic acid fragments that encode amino acid sequences that are at least 95% identical to the amino acid sequences reported herein. Suitable nucleic acid fragments not only have the above homologies but typically encode a polypeptide having at least 50 amino acids, preferably at least 100 amino acids, more preferably at least 150 amino acids, still more preferably at least 200 amino acids, and most preferably at least 250 amino acids. Sequence alignments and percent identity calculations were performed using the Megalign program of the LASERGENE bioinformatics computing suite (DNASTAR Inc., Madison, Wis.). Multiple alignment of the sequences was performed using the Clustal method of alignment (Higgins and Sharp (1989) CABIOS. 5:151-153) with the default parameters (GAP PENALTY=10, GAP LENGTH PENALTY=10). Default parameters for pairwise alignments using the Clustal method were KTUPLE 1, GAP PENALTY=3, WINDOW=5 and DIAGONALS SAVED=5.

[0043] A “substantial portion” of an amino acid or nucleotide sequence comprises an amino acid or a nucleotide sequence that is sufficient to afford putative identification of the protein or gene that the amino acid or nucleotide sequence comprises. Amino acid and nucleotide sequences can be evaluated either manually by one skilled in the art, or by using computer-based sequence comparison and identification tools that employ algorithms such as BLAST (Basic Local Alignment Search Tool; Altschul et al. (1993) J. Mol. Biol. 215:403-410; see also www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/BLAST/). In general, a sequence of ten or more contiguous amino acids or thirty or more contiguous nucleotides is necessary in order to putatively identify a polypeptide or nucleic acid sequence as homologous to a known protein or gene. Moreover, with respect to nucleotide sequences, gene-specific oligonucleotide probes comprising 30 or more contiguous nucleotides may be used in sequence-dependent methods of gene identification (e.g., Southern hybridization) and isolation (e.g., in situ hybridization of bacterial colonies or bacteriophage plaques). In addition, short oligonucleotides of 12 or more nucleotides may be used as amplification primers in PCR in order to obtain a particular nucleic acid fragment comprising the primers. Accordingly, a “substantial portion” of a nucleotide sequence comprises a nucleotide sequence that will afford specific identification and/or isolation of a nucleic acid fragment comprising the sequence. The instant specification teaches amino acid and nucleotide sequences encoding polypeptides that comprise one or more particular plant proteins. The skilled artisan, having the benefit of the sequences as reported herein, may now use all or a substantial portion of the disclosed sequences for purposes known to those skilled in this art. Accordingly, the instant invention comprises the complete sequences as reported in the accompanying Sequence Listing, as well as substantial portions of those sequences as defined above.

[0044] “Codon degeneracy” refers to divergence in the genetic code permitting variation of the nucleotide sequence without effecting the amino acid sequence of an encoded polypeptide. Accordingly, the instant invention relates to any nucleic acid fragment comprising a nucleotide sequence that encodes all or a substantial portion of the amino acid sequences set forth herein. The skilled artisan is well aware of the “codon-bias” exhibited by a specific host cell in usage of nucleotide codons to specify a given amino acid. Therefore, when synthesizing a nucleic acid fragment for improved expression in a host cell, it is desirable to design the nucleic acid fragment such that its frequency of codon usage approaches the frequency of preferred codon usage of the host cell.

[0045] “Synthetic nucleic acid fragments” can be assembled from oligonucleotide building blocks that are chemically synthesized using procedures known to those skilled in the art. These building blocks are ligated and annealed to form larger nucleic acid fragments which may then be enzymatically assembled to construct the entire desired nucleic acid fragment. “Chemically synthesized”, as related to nucleic acid fragment, means that the component nucleotides were assembled in vitro. Manual chemical synthesis of nucleic acid fragments may be accomplished using well established procedures, or automated chemical synthesis can be performed using one of a number of commercially available machines. Accordingly, the nucleic acid fragments can be tailored for optimal gene expression based on optimization of nucleotide sequence to reflect the codon bias of the host cell. The skilled artisan appreciates the likelihood of successful gene expression if codon usage is biased towards those codons favored by the host. Determination of preferred codons can be based on a survey of genes derived from the host cell where sequence information is available.

[0046] “Gene” refers to a nucleic acid fragment that expresses a specific protein, including regulatory sequences preceding (5′ non-coding sequences) and following (3′ non-coding sequences) the coding sequence. “Native gene” refers to a gene as found in nature with its own regulatory sequences. “Chimeric gene” refers any gene that is not a native gene, comprising regulatory and coding sequences that are not found together in nature. Accordingly, a chimeric gene may comprise regulatory sequences and coding sequences that are derived from different sources, or regulatory sequences and coding sequences derived from the same source, but arranged in a manner different than that found in nature. “Endogenous gene” refers to a native gene in its natural location in the genome of an organism. A “foreign” gene refers to a gene not normally found in the host organism, but that is introduced into the host organism by gene transfer. Foreign genes can comprise native genes inserted into a non-native organism, or chimeric genes. A “transgene” is a gene that has been introduced into the genome by a transformation procedure.

[0047] “Coding sequence” refers to a nucleotide sequence that codes for a specific amino acid sequence. “Regulatory sequences” refer to nucleotide sequences located upstream (5′ non-coding sequences), within, or downstream (3′ non-coding sequences) of a coding sequence, and which influence the transcription, RNA processing or stability, or translation of the associated coding sequence. Regulatory sequences may include promoters, translation leader sequences, introns, and polyadenylation recognition sequences.

[0048] “Promoter” refers to a nucleotide sequence capable of controlling the expression of a coding sequence or functional RNA. In general, a coding sequence is located 3′ to a promoter sequence. The promoter sequence consists of proximal and more distal upstream elements, the latter elements often referred to as enhancers. Accordingly, an “enhancer” is a nucleotide sequence which can stimulate promoter activity and may be an innate element of the promoter or a heterologous element inserted to enhance the level or tissue-specificity of a promoter. Promoters may be derived in their entirety from a native gene, or be composed of different elements derived from different promoters found in nature, or even comprise synthetic nucleotide segments. It is understood by those skilled in the art that different promoters may direct the expression of a gene in different tissues or cell types, or at different stages of development, or in response to different environmental conditions. Promoters which cause a nucleic acid fragment to be expressed in most cell types at most times are commonly referred to as “constitutive promoters”. New promoters of various types useful in plant cells are constantly being discovered; numerous examples may be found in the compilation by Okamuro and Goldberg (1989) Biochemistry of Plants 15:1-82. It is further recognized that since in most cases the exact boundaries of regulatory sequences have not been completely defined, nucleic acid fragments of different lengths may have identical promoter activity.

[0049] The “translation leader sequence” refers to a nucleotide sequence located between the promoter sequence of a gene and the coding sequence. The translation leader sequence is present in the fully processed mRNA upstream of the translation start sequence. The translation leader sequence may affect processing of the primary transcript to mRNA, mRNA stability or translation efficiency. Examples of translation leader sequences have been described (Turner and Foster (1995) Mol. Biotechnol. 3:225-236).

[0050] The “3′ non-coding sequences” refer to nucleotide sequences located downstream of a coding sequence and include polyadenylation recognition sequences and other sequences encoding regulatory signals capable of affecting mRNA processing or gene expression. The polyadenylation signal is usually characterized by affecting the addition of polyadenylic acid tracts to the 3′ end of the mRNA precursor. The use of different 3′ non-coding sequences is exemplified by Ingelbrecht et al. (1989) Plant Cell 1:671-680.

[0051] “RNA transcript” refers to the product resulting from RNA polymerase-catalyzed transcription of a DNA sequence. When the RNA transcript is a perfect complementary copy of the DNA sequence, it is referred to as the primary transcript or it may be a RNA sequence derived from posttranscriptional processing of the primary transcript and is referred to as the mature RNA. “Messenger RNA (mRNA)” refers to the RNA that is without introns and that can be translated into polypeptide by the cell. “cDNA” refers to a double-stranded DNA that is complementary to and derived from mRNA. “Sense” RNA refers to an RNA transcript that includes the mRNA and so can be translated into a polypeptide by the cell. “Antisense RNA” refers to an RNA transcript that is complementary to all or part of a target primary transcript or mRNA and that blocks the expression of a target gene (see U.S. Pat. No. 5,107,065, incorporated herein by reference). The complementarity of an antisense RNA may be with any part of the specific nucleotide sequence, i.e., at the 5′ non-coding sequence, 3′ non-coding sequence, introns, or the coding sequence. “Functional RNA” refers to sense RNA, antisense RNA, ribozyme RNA, or other RNA that may not be translated but yet has an effect on cellular processes.

[0052] The term “operably linked” refers to the association of two or more nucleic acid fragments on a single nucleic acid fragment so that the function of one is affected by the other. For example, a promoter is operably linked with a coding sequence when it is capable of affecting the expression of that coding sequence (i.e., that the coding sequence is under the transcriptional control of the promoter). Coding sequences can be operably linked to regulatory sequences in sense or antisense orientation.

[0053] The term “expression”, as used herein, refers to the transcription and stable accumulation of sense (mRNA) or antisense RNA derived from the nucleic acid fragment of the invention. Expression may also refer to translation of mRNA into a polypeptide. “Antisense inhibition” refers to the production of antisense RNA transcripts capable of suppressing the expression of the target protein. “Overexpression” refers to the production of a gene product in transgenic organisms that exceeds levels of production in normal or non-transformed organisms. “Co-suppression” refers to the production of sense RNA transcripts capable of suppressing the expression of identical or substantially similar foreign or endogenous genes (U.S. Pat. No. 5,231,020, incorporated herein by reference).

[0054] “Altered levels” refers to the production of gene product(s) in transgenic organisms in amounts or proportions that differ from that of normal or non-transformed organisms.

[0055] “Mature” protein refers to a post-translationally processed polypeptide; i.e., one from which any pre- or propeptides present in the primary translation product have been removed. “Precursor” protein refers to the primary product of translation of mRNA; i.e., with pre- and propeptides still present. Pre- and propeptides may be but are not limited to intracellular localization signals.

[0056] A “chloroplast transit peptide” is an amino acid sequence which is translated in conjunction with a protein and directs the protein to the chloroplast or other plastid types present in the cell in which the protein is made. “Chloroplast transit sequence” refers to a nucleotide sequence that encodes a chloroplast transit peptide. A “signal peptide” is an amino acid sequence which is translated in conjunction with a protein and directs the protein to the secretory system (Chrispeels (1991) Ann. Rev. Plant Phys. Plant Mol. Biol. 42:21-53). If the protein is to be directed to a vacuole, a vacuolar targeting signal (supra) can further be added, or if to the endoplasmic reticulum, an endoplasmic reticulum retention signal (supra) may be added. If the protein is to be directed to the nucleus, any signal peptide present should be removed and instead a nuclear localization signal included (Raikhel (1992) Plant Phys. 100:1627-1632).

[0057] “Transformation” refers to the transfer of a nucleic acid fragment into the genome of a host organism, resulting in genetically stable inheritance. Host organisms containing the transformed nucleic acid fragments are referred to as “transgenic” organisms. Examples of methods of plant transformation include Agrobacterium-mediated transformation (De Blaere et al. (1987) Meth. Enzymol. 143:277) and particle-accelerated or “gene gun” transformation technology (Klein et al. (1987) Nature (London) 327:70-73; U.S. Pat. No. 4,945,050, incorporated herein by reference).

[0058] Standard recombinant DNA and molecular cloning techniques used herein are well known in the art and are described more fully in Sambrook et al. Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual; Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press: Cold Spring Harbor, 1989 (hereinafter “Maniatis”).

[0059] Nucleic acid fragments encoding at least a portion of several sterol metabolism enzyme have been isolated and identified by comparison of random plant cDNA sequences to public databases containing nucleotide and protein sequences using the BLAST algorithms well known to those skilled in the art. The nucleic acid fragments of the instant invention may be used to isolate cDNAs and genes encoding homologous proteins from the same or other plant species. Isolation of homologous genes using sequence-dependent protocols is well known in the art. Examples of sequence-dependent protocols include, but are not limited to, methods of nucleic acid hybridization, and methods of DNA and RNA amplification as exemplified by various uses of nucleic acid amplification technologies (e.g., polymerase chain reaction, ligase chain reaction).

[0060] For example, genes encoding other sterol delta-7 reductase or a sterol-C5 desaturase, either as cDNAs or genomic DNAs, could be isolated directly by using all or a portion of the instant nucleic acid fragments as DNA hybridization probes to screen libraries from any desired plant employing methodology well known to those skilled in the art. Specific oligonucleotide probes based upon the instant nucleic acid sequences can be designed and synthesized by methods known in the art (Maniatis). Moreover, the entire sequences can be used directly to synthesize DNA probes by methods known to the skilled artisan such as random primer DNA labeling, nick translation, or end-labeling techniques, or RNA probes using available in vitro transcription systems. In addition, specific primers can be designed and used to amplify a part or all of the instant sequences. The resulting amplification products can be labeled directly during amplification reactions or labeled after amplification reactions, and used as probes to isolate full length cDNA or genomic fragments under conditions of appropriate stringency.

[0061] In addition, two short segments of the instant nucleic acid fragments may be used in polymerase chain reaction protocols to amplify longer nucleic acid fragments encoding homologous genes from DNA or RNA. The polymerase chain reaction may also be performed on a library of cloned nucleic acid fragments wherein the sequence of one primer is derived from the instant nucleic acid fragments, and the sequence of the other primer takes advantage of the presence of the polyadenylic acid tracts to the 3′ end of the mRNA precursor encoding plant genes. Alternatively, the second primer sequence may be based upon sequences derived from the cloning vector. For example, the skilled artisan can follow the RACE protocol (Frohman et al. (1988) Proc. Nati. Acad. Sci. USA 85:8998-9002) to generate cDNAs by using PCR to amplify copies of the region between a single point in the transcript and the 3′ or 5′ end. Primers oriented in the 3′ and 5′ directions can be designed from the instant sequences. Using commercially available 3′ RACE or 5′ RACE systems (BRL), specific 3′ or 5′ cDNA fragments can be isolated (Ohara et al. (1989) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86:5673-5677; Loh et al. (1989) Science 243:217-220). Products generated by the 3′ and 5′ RACE procedures can be combined to generate full-length cDNAs (Frohman and Martin (1989) Techniques 1:165). Consequently, a polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence of at least one of 60 (preferably one of at least 40, most preferably one of at least 30) contiguous nucleotides derived from a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs:1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, and 29 and the complement of such nucleotide sequences may be used in such methods to obtain a nucleic acid fragment encoding a substantial portion of an amino acid sequence of a polypeptide. The present invention relates to a method of obtaining a nucleic acid fragment encoding a substantial portion of a polypeptide of a gene (such as sterol delta-7 reductase or a sterol-C5 desaturase) preferably a substantial portion of a plant polypeptide of a gene, comprising the steps of: synthesizing an oligonucleotide primer comprising a nucleotide sequence of at least one of 60 (preferably at least one of 40, most preferably at least one of 30) contiguous nucleotides derived from a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs:1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, and 29 and the complement of such nucleotide sequences; and amplifying a nucleic acid fragment (preferably a cDNA inserted in a cloning vector) using the oligonucleotide primer. The amplified nucleic acid fragment preferably will encode a portion of a polypeptide.

[0062] Availability of the instant nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences facilitates immunological screening of cDNA expression libraries. Synthetic peptides representing portions of the instant amino acid sequences may be synthesized. These peptides can be used to immunize animals to produce polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies with specificity for peptides or proteins comprising the amino acid sequences. These antibodies can be then be used to screen cDNA expression libraries to isolate full-length cDNA clones of interest (Lerner (1984) Adv. Immunol. 36:1-34; Maniatis).

[0063] The nucleic acid fragments of the instant invention may be used to create transgenic plants in which the disclosed sterol delta-7 reductase or sterol-C5 desaturase are present at higher or lower levels than normal or in cell types or developmental stages in which they are not normally found. This would have the effect of altering the ratio of saturated to unsaturated sterols in those cells without disturbing the production of other essential mevalonate pathway products.

[0064] Overexpression of the proteins of the instant invention may be accomplished by first constructing a chimeric gene in which the coding region is operably linked to a promoter capable of directing expression of a gene in the desired tissues at the desired stage of development. For reasons of convenience, the chimeric gene may comprise promoter sequences and translation leader sequences derived from the same genes. 3′ Non-coding sequences encoding transcription termination signals may also be provided. The instant chimeric gene may also comprise one or more introns in order to facilitate gene expression.

[0065] Plasmid vectors comprising the instant chimeric gene can then be constructed. The choice of plasmid vector is dependent upon the method that will be used to transform host plants. The skilled artisan is well aware of the genetic elements that must be present on the plasmid vector in order to successfully transform, select and propagate host cells containing the chimeric gene. The skilled artisan will also recognize that different independent transformation events will result in different levels and patterns of expression (Jones et al. (1985) EMBO J. 4:2411-2418; De Almeida et al. (1989) Mol. Gen. Genetics 218:78-86), and thus that multiple events must be screened in order to obtain lines displaying the desired expression level and pattern. Such screening may be accomplished by Southern analysis of DNA, Northern analysis of mRNA expression, Western analysis of protein expression, or phenotypic analysis.

[0066] For some applications it may be useful to direct the instant polypeptides to different cellular compartments, or to facilitate its secretion from the cell. It is thus envisioned that the chimeric gene described above may be further supplemented by altering the coding sequence to encode the instant polypeptides with appropriate intracellular targeting sequences such as transit sequences (Keegstra (1989) Cell 56:247-253), signal sequences or sequences encoding endoplasmic reticulum localization (Chrispeels (1991) Ann. Rev. Plant Phys. Plant Mol. Biol. 42:21-53), or nuclear localization signals (Raikhel (1992) Plant Phys. 100: 1627-1632) added and/or with targeting sequences that are already present removed. While the references cited give examples of each of these, the list is not exhaustive and more targeting signals of utility may be discovered in the future.

[0067] It may also be desirable to reduce or eliminate expression of genes encoding the instant polypeptides in plants for some applications. In order to accomplish this, a chimeric gene designed for co-suppression of the instant polypeptide can be constructed by linking a gene or gene fragment encoding that polypeptide to plant promoter sequences. Alternatively, a chimeric gene designed to express antisense RNA for all or part of the instant nucleic acid fragment can be constructed by linking the gene or gene fragment in reverse orientation to plant promoter sequences. Either the co-suppression or antisense chimeric genes could be introduced into plants via transformation wherein expression of the corresponding endogenous genes are reduced or eliminated.

[0068] Molecular genetic solutions to the generation of plants with altered gene expression have a decided advantage over more traditional plant breeding approaches. Changes in plant phenotypes can be produced by specifically inhibiting expression of one or more genes by antisense inhibition or cosuppression (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,190,931, 5,107,065 and 5,283,323). An antisense or cosuppression construct would act as a dominant negative regulator of gene activity. While conventional mutations can yield negative regulation of gene activity these effects are most likely recessive. The dominant negative regulation available with a transgenic approach may be advantageous from a breeding perspective. In addition, the ability to restrict the expression of specific phenotype to the reproductive tissues of the plant by the use of tissue specific promoters may confer agronomic advantages relative to conventional mutations which may have an effect in all tissues in which a mutant gene is ordinarily expressed.

[0069] The person skilled in the art will know that special considerations are associated with the use of antisense or cosuppression technologies in order to reduce expression of particular genes. For example, the proper level of expression of sense or antisense genes may require the use of different chimeric genes utilizing different regulatory elements known to the skilled artisan. Once transgenic plants are obtained by one of the methods described above, it will be necessary to screen individual transgenics for those that most effectively display the desired phenotype. Accordingly, the skilled artisan will develop methods for screening large numbers of transformants. The nature of these screens will generally be chosen on practical grounds, and is not an inherent part of the invention. For example, one can screen by looking for changes in gene expression by using antibodies specific for the protein encoded by the gene being suppressed, or one could establish assays that specifically measure enzyme activity. A preferred method will be one which allows large numbers of samples to be processed rapidly, since it will be expected that a large number of transformants will be negative for the desired phenotype.

[0070] The instant polypeptides (or portions thereof) may be produced in heterologous host cells, particularly in the cells of microbial hosts, and can be used to prepare antibodies to the these proteins by methods well known to those skilled in the art. The antibodies are useful for detecting the polypeptides of the instant invention in situ in cells or in vitro in cell extracts. Preferred heterologous host cells for production of the instant polypeptides are microbial hosts. Microbial expression systems and expression vectors containing regulatory sequences that direct high level expression of foreign proteins are well known to those skilled in the art. Any of these could be used to construct a chimeric gene for production of the instant polypeptides. This chimeric gene could then be introduced into appropriate microorganisms via transformation to provide high level expression of the encoded sterol metabolism enzyme. An example of a vector for high level expression of the instant polypeptides in a bacterial host is provided (Example 7).

[0071] Additionally, the instant polypeptides can be used as a targets to facilitate design and/or identification of inhibitors of those enzymes that may be useful as herbicides. This is desirable because the polypeptides described herein catalyze various steps in sterol metabolism, which in turn affects the accumulation of structural membrane sterols and their related hormones, such as brassinosteroids, that are produced from plant sterols (Altmann (1998) Curr Op Plant Bio 1:378-383; Rouleau et al. (1999) J Biol Chem 274:20925-20930). Accordingly, inhibition of the activity of one or more of the enzymes described herein could lead to inhibition or alteration of plant growth. Thus, the instant polypeptides could be appropriate for new herbicide discovery and design.

[0072] All or a substantial portion of the nucleic acid fragments of the instant invention may also be used as probes for genetically and physically mapping the genes that they are a part of, and as markers for traits linked to those genes. Such information may be useful in plant breeding in order to develop lines with desired phenotypes. For example, the instant nucleic acid fragments may be used as restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) markers. Southern blots (Maniatis) of restriction-digested plant genomic DNA may be probed with the nucleic acid fragments of the instant invention. The resulting banding patterns may then be subjected to genetic analyses using computer programs such as MapMaker (Lander et al. (1987) Genomics 1:174-181) in order to construct a genetic map. In addition, the nucleic acid fragments of the instant invention may be used to probe Southern blots containing restriction endonuclease-treated genomic DNAs of a set of individuals representing parent and progeny of a defined genetic cross. Segregation of the DNA polymorphisms is noted and used to calculate the position of the instant nucleic acid sequence in the genetic map previously obtained using this population (Botstein et al. (1980) Am. J. Hum. Genet. 32:314-331).

[0073] The production and use of plant gene-derived probes for use in genetic mapping is described in Bernatzky and Tanksley (1986) Plant Mol. Biol. Reporter 4:37-41. Numerous publications describe genetic mapping of specific cDNA clones using the methodology outlined above or variations thereof. For example, F2 intercross populations, backcross populations, randomly mated populations, near isogenic lines, and other sets of individuals may be used for mapping. Such methodologies are well known to those skilled in the art.

[0074] Nucleic acid probes derived from the instant nucleic acid sequences may also be used for physical mapping (i.e., placement of sequences on physical maps; see Hoheisel et al. In: Nonmammalian Genomic Analysis: A Practical Guide, Academic press 1996, pp. 319-346, and references cited therein).

[0075] In another embodiment, nucleic acid probes derived from the instant nucleic acid sequences may be used in direct fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) mapping (Trask (1991) Trends Genet. 7:149-154). Although current methods of FISH mapping favor use of large clones (several to several hundred KB; see Laan et al. (1995) Genome Res. 5:13-20), improvements in sensitivity may allow performance of FISH mapping using shorter probes.

[0076] A variety of nucleic acid amplification-based methods of genetic and physical mapping may be carried out using the instant nucleic acid sequences. Examples include allele-specific amplification (Kazazian (1989) J. Lab. Clin. Med. 11:95-96), polymorphism of PCR-amplified fragments (CAPS; Sheffield et al. (1993) Genomics 16:325-332), allele-specific ligation (Landegren et al. (1988) Science 241:1077-1080), nucleotide extension reactions (Sokolov (1990) Nucleic Acid Res. 18:3671), Radiation Hybrid Mapping (Walter et al. (1997) Nat. Genet. 7:22-28) and Happy Mapping (Dear and Cook (1989) Nucleic Acid Res. 17:6795-6807). For these methods, the sequence of a nucleic acid fragment is used to design and produce primer pairs for use in the amplification reaction or in primer extension reactions. The design of such primers is well known to those skilled in the art. In methods employing PCR-based genetic mapping, it may be necessary to identify DNA sequence differences between the parents of the mapping cross in the region corresponding to the instant nucleic acid sequence. This, however, is generally not necessary for mapping methods.

[0077] Loss of function mutant phenotypes may be identified for the instant cDNA clones either by targeted gene disruption protocols or by identifying specific mutants for these genes contained in a maize population carrying mutations in all possible genes (Ballinger and Benzer (1989) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci USA 86:9402-9406; Koes et al. (1995) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci USA 92:8149-8153; Bensen et al. (1995) Plant Cell 7:75-84). The latter approach may be accomplished in two ways. First, short segments of the instant nucleic acid fragments may be used in polymerase chain reaction protocols in conjunction with a mutation tag sequence primer on DNAs prepared from a population of plants in which Mutator transposons or some other mutation-causing DNA element has been introduced (see Bensen, supra). The amplification of a specific DNA fragment with these primers indicates the insertion of the mutation tag element in or near the plant gene encoding the instant polypeptides. Alternatively, the instant nucleic acid fragment may be used as a hybridization probe against PCR amplification products generated from the mutation population using the mutation tag sequence primer in conjunction with an arbitrary genomic site primer, such as that for a restriction enzyme site-anchored synthetic adaptor. With either method, a plant containing a mutation in the endogenous gene encoding the instant polypeptides can be identified and obtained. This mutant plant can then be used to determine or confirm the natural function of the instant polypeptides disclosed herein.

EXAMPLES

[0078] The present invention is further defined in the following Examples, in which all parts and percentages are by weight and degrees are Celsius, unless otherwise stated. It should be understood that these Examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only. From the above discussion and these Examples, one skilled in the art can ascertain the essential characteristics of this invention, and without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, can make various changes and modifications of the invention to adapt it to various usages and conditions.

Example 1 Composition of cDNA Libraries; Isolation and Sequencing of cDNA Clones

[0079] cDNA libraries representing mRNAs from various corn, rice, soybean, and wheat tissues were prepared. The characteristics of the libraries are described below. TABLE 2 cDNA Libraries from Corn, Rice, Soybean, and Wheat Library Tissue Clone cbn2 Corn Developing Kernel Two Days cbn2.pk0007.h11 After Pollination cbn2 .pk0054.f4 ceb5 Corn Embryo 30 Days After Pollination ceb5.pk0013.g1 ceb5 .pk0078.d4 cen3n Corn Endosperm 20 Days After Pollination* cen3n.pk0157.h1 cep7 Corn 7 Day Old Epicotyl; Grown in Light cep7.pk0018.a6 cep7.pk0019.a3 cr1n Corn Root From 7 Day Old Seedlings* cr1n.pk0141.e2 cta1n Corn Tassel* cta1n.pk0078.c1 rl0n Rice 15 Day Old Leaf* rl0n.pk083.a21 rlr2 Rice Leaf 15 Days After Germination, rlr2.pk0028.c11 2 Hours After Infection of Strain Magaporthe grisea 4360-R-62 (AVR2-YAMO); Resistant sfl1 Soybean Immature Flower sfl1.pk0030.b7 sfl1.pk0107.g5 src3c Soybean 8 Day Old Root Infected src3c.pk002.g3 With Cyst Nematode wl1n Wheat Leaf From 7 Day Old Seedling* wl1n.pk0001.g5 wr1 Wheat Root From 7 Day Old Seedling wr1.pk0107.a5

[0080] cDNA libraries may be prepared by any one of many methods available. For example, the cDNAs may be introduced into plasmid vectors by first preparing the cDNA libraries in Uni-ZAP™ XR vectors according to the manufacturer's protocol (Stratagene Cloning Systems, La Jolla, Calif.). The Uni-ZAP™ XR libraries are converted into plasmid libraries according to the protocol provided by Stratagene. Upon conversion, cDNA inserts will be contained in the plasmid vector pBluescript. In addition, the cDNAs may be introduced directly into precut Bluescript II SK(+) vectors (Stratagene) using T4 DNA ligase (New England Biolabs), followed by transfection into DH10B cells according to the manufacturer's protocol (GIBCO BRL Products). Once the cDNA inserts are in plasmid vectors, plasmid DNAs are prepared from randomly picked bacterial colonies containing recombinant pBluescript plasmids, or the insert cDNA sequences are amplified via polymerase chain reaction using primers specific for vector sequences flanking the inserted cDNA sequences. Amplified insert DNAs or plasmid DNAs are sequenced in dye-primer sequencing reactions to generate partial cDNA sequences (expressed sequence tags or “ESTs”; see Adams et al., (1991) Science 252:1651-1656). The resulting ESTs are analyzed using a Perkin Elmer Model 377 fluorescent sequencer.

Example 2 Identification of cDNA Clones

[0081] cDNA clones encoding sterol metabolism enzyme were identified by conducting BLAST (Basic Local Alignment Search Tool; Altschul et al. (1993) J. Mol. Biol. 215:403-410; see also www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/BLAST/) searches for similarity to sequences contained in the BLAST “nr” database (comprising all non-redundant GenBank CDS translations, sequences derived from the 3-dimensional structure Brookhaven Protein Data Bank, the last major release of the SWISS-PROT protein sequence database, EMBL, and DDBJ databases). The cDNA sequences obtained in Example 1 were analyzed for similarity to all publicly available DNA sequences contained in the “nr” database using the BLASTN algorithm provided by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). The DNA sequences were translated in all reading frames and compared for similarity to all publicly available protein sequences contained in the “nr” database using the BLASTX algorithm (Gish and States (1993) Nat. Genet. 3:266-272) provided by the NCBI. For convenience, the P-value (probability) of observing a match of a cDNA sequence to a sequence contained in the searched databases merely by chance as calculated by BLAST are reported herein as “pLog” values, which represent the negative of the logarithm of the reported P-value. Accordingly, the greater the pLog value, the greater the likelihood that the cDNA sequence and the BLAST “hit” represent homologous proteins.

Example 3 Characterization of cDNA Clones Encoding Sterol Delta-7 Reductase

[0082] The BLASTX search using the EST sequences from clones listed in Table 3 revealed similarity of the polypeptides encoded by the cDNAs to sterol delta-7 reductase from Arabidopsis thaliana (NCBI Accession No. gi 1245182). Shown in Table 3 are the BLAST results for individual ESTs (“EST”), the sequences of the entire cDNA inserts comprising the indicated cDNA clones (“FIS”), contigs assembled from two or more ESTs (“Contig”), contigs assembled from an FIS and one or more ESTs (“Contig*”), or sequences encoding the entire protein derived from an FIS, a contig, or an FIS and PCR (“CGS”): TABLE 3 BLAST Results for Sequences Encoding Polypeptides Homologous to Sterol Delta-7 Reductase BLAST pLog Score Clone Status 1245182 cep7.pk0019.a3 Contig 20.52 cep7.pk0018.a6 rl0n.pk083.a21 EST 34.05 src3c.pk002.g3 Contig 67.00 sfl1.pk0030.b7 wl1n.pk0001.g5 EST 57.40 sfl1.pk0030.b7:fis FIS 254.00 rl0n.pk083.a21:fis FIS 254.00 wl1n.pk0001.g5:fis FIS 254.00

[0083]FIG. 1 presents an alignment of the amino acid sequences set forth in SEQ ID NOs:2, 18, 20, and 22, and the Arabidopsis thaliana sequence (SEQ ID NO: 31). The data in Table 4 represents a calculation of the percent identity of the amino acid sequences set forth in SEQ ID NOs:2, 18, 20, and 22, and the Arabidopsis thaliana sequence (SEQ ID NO:31). TABLE 4 Percent Identity of Amino Acid Sequences Deduced From the Nucleotide Sequences of cDNA Clones Encoding Polypeptides Homologous to Sterol Delta-7 Reductase Percent Identity to SEQ ID NO. 1245182  2 63.5% 18 81.6% 20 82.8% 22 81.4%

[0084] Sequence alignments and percent identity calculations were performed using the Megalign program of the LASERGENE bioinformatics computing suite (DNASTAR Inc., Madison, Wis.). Multiple alignment of the sequences was performed using the Clustal method of alignment (Higgins and Sharp (1989) CABIOS. 5:151-153) with the default parameters (GAP PENALTY=10, GAP LENGTH PENALTY=10). Default parameters for pairwise alignments using the Clustal method were KTUPLE 1, GAP PENALTY=3, WINDOW=5 and DIAGONALS SAVED=5. Sequence alignments and BLAST scores and probabilities indicate that the nucleic acid fragments comprising the instant cDNA clones encode a substantial portion of a sterol delta-7 reductase. These sequences represent the first monocot and soybean sequences encoding sterol delta-7 reductase.

Example 4 Characterization of cDNA Clones Encoding Sterol-C5 Desaturase

[0085] The BLASTX search using the EST sequences from clones listed in Table 5 revealed similarity of the polypeptides encoded by the cDNAs to sterol-C5 desaturases from Nicotiana tabacum (NCBI Accession No. gi 4426627 for the corn sequence, and NCBI Accession No. gi 4140398). Shown in Table 5 are the BLAST results for individual ESTs (“EST”), the sequences of the entire cDNA inserts comprising the indicated cDNA clones (“FIS”), contigs assembled from two or more ESTs (“Contig”), contigs assembled from an FIS and one or more ESTs (“Contig*”), or sequences encoding the entire protein derived from an FIS, a contig, or an FIS and PCR (“CGS”): TABLE 5 BLAST Results for Sequences Encoding Polypeptides Homologous to Sterol-C5 Desaturase BLAST pLog Score Clone Status 4426627/4140398 ceb5.pk0078.d4 Contig 135.00 cbn2.pk0054.f4 cta1n.pk0078.c1 ceb5.pk0013.g1 cen3n.pk0157.h1 cr1n.pk0141.e2 cbn2.pk0007.h11 rlr2.pk0028.c11 FIS 13.70 sfl1.pk0107.g5 Contig 38.70 wr1.pk0107.a5 EST 38.70 cta1n.pk0078.c1:fis FIS 96.40 rlr2.pk0028.c11:fis FIS 125.00 sfl1.pk0107.g5:fis FIS 133.00 wr1.pk0107.a5:fis FIS 118.00

[0086]FIG. 2 presents an alignment of the amino acid sequences set forth in SEQ ID NOs:24, 26, 28, and 30, and the Nicotiana tabacum sequences (SEQ ID NO:32 most closely related to SEQ ID NO:24, and SEQ ID NO:33 that has best BLAST homology with SEQ ID NOs:26, 28, and 30). The data in Table 6 represents a calculation of the percent identity of the amino acid sequences set forth in SEQ ID NOs:24, 26, 28, and 30, and the Nicotiana tabacum sequences (SEQ ID NO:32 most closely related to SEQ ID NO:24, and SEQ ID NO:33 that matches best with SEQ ID NOs:26, 28, and 30). TABLE 6 Percent Identity of Amino Acid Sequences Deduced From the Nucleotide Sequences of cDNA Clones Encoding Polypeptides Homologous to Sterol-C5 Desaturase Percent Identity to SEQ ID NO. 4426627 24 80.1% Percent Identity to SEQ ID NO. 4140398 26 73.2% 28 75.5% 30 76.7%

[0087] Sequence alignments and percent identity calculations were performed using the Megalign program of the LASERGENE bioinformatics computing suite (DNASTAR Inc., Madison, Wis.). Multiple alignment of the sequences was performed using the Clustal method of alignment (Higgins and Sharp (1989) CABIOS. 5:151-153) with the default parameters (GAP PENALTY=10, GAP LENGTH PENALTY=10). Default parameters for pairwise alignments using the Clustal method were KTUPLE 1, GAP PENALTY=3, WINDOW=5 and DIAGONALS SAVED=5. Sequence alignments and BLAST scores and probabilities indicate that the nucleic acid fragments comprising the instant cDNA clones encode a substantial portion of corn, rice, soybean, and wheat sterol-C5 desaturase. These sequences represent the first monocot and soybean sequences encoding sterol-C5 desaturase.

Example 5 Expression of Chimeric Genes in Monocot Cells

[0088] A chimeric gene comprising a cDNA encoding the instant polypeptides in sense orientation with respect to the maize 27 kD zein promoter that is located 5′ to the cDNA fragment, and the 10 kD zein 3′ end that is located 3′ to the cDNA fragment, can be constructed. The cDNA fragment of this gene may be generated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of the cDNA clone using appropriate oligonucleotide primers. Cloning sites (NcoI or SmaI) can be incorporated into the oligonucleotides to provide proper orientation of the DNA fragment when inserted into the digested vector pML103 as described below. Amplification is then performed in a standard PCR. The amplified DNA is then digested with restriction enzymes NcoI and SmaI and fractionated on an agarose gel. The appropriate band can be isolated from the gel and combined with a 4.9 kb NcoI-SmaI fragment of the plasmid pML103. Plasmid pML103 has been deposited under the terms of the Budapest Treaty at ATCC (American Type Culture Collection, 10801 University Blvd., Manassas, Va. 20110-2209), and bears accession number ATCC 97366. The DNA segment from pML103 contains a 1.05 kb SalI-NcoI promoter fragment of the maize 27 kD zein gene and a 0.96 kb SmaI-SalI fragment from the 3′ end of the maize 10 kD zein gene in the vector pGem9Zf(+) (Promega). Vector and insert DNA can be ligated at 15° C. overnight, essentially as described (Maniatis). The ligated DNA may then be used to transform E. coli XL1-Blue (Epicurian Coli XL-1 Blue™; Stratagene). Bacterial transformants can be screened by restriction enzyme digestion of plasmid DNA and limited nucleotide sequence analysis using the dideoxy chain termination method (Sequenase™ DNA Sequencing Kit; U.S. Biochemical). The resulting plasmid construct would comprise a chimeric gene encoding, in the 5′ to 3′ direction, the maize 27 kD zein promoter, a cDNA fragment encoding the instant polypeptides, and the 10 kD zein 3′ region.

[0089] The chimeric gene described above can then be introduced into corn cells by the following procedure. Immature corn embryos can be dissected from developing caryopses derived from crosses of the inbred corn lines H99 and LH132. The embryos are isolated 10 to 11 days after pollination when they are 1.0 to 1.5 mm long. The embryos are then placed with the axis-side facing down and in contact with agarose-solidified N6 medium (Chu et al. (1975) Sci. Sin. Peking 18:659-668). The embryos are kept in the dark at 27° C. Friable embryogenic callus consisting of undifferentiated masses of cells with somatic proembryoids and embryoids borne on suspensor structures proliferates from the scutellum of these immature embryos. The embryogenic callus isolated from the primary explant can be cultured on N6 medium and sub-cultured on this medium every 2 to 3 weeks.

[0090] The plasmid, p35S/Ac (obtained from Dr. Peter Eckes, Hoechst Ag, Frankfurt, Germany) may be used in transformation experiments in order to provide for a selectable marker. This plasmid contains the Pat gene (see European Patent Publication 0 242 236) which encodes phosphinothricin acetyl transferase (PAT). The enzyme PAT confers resistance to herbicidal glutamine synthetase inhibitors such as phosphinothricin. The pat gene in p35S/Ac is under the control of the 35S promoter from Cauliflower Mosaic Virus (Odell et al. (1985) Nature 313:810-812) and the 3′ region of the nopaline synthase gene from the T-DNA of the Ti plasmid of Agrobacterium tumefaciens.

[0091] The particle bombardment method (Klein et al. (1987) Nature 327:70-73) may be used to transfer genes to the callus culture cells. According to this method, gold particles (1 μm in diameter) are coated with DNA using the following technique. Ten μg of plasmid DNAs are added to 50 μL of a suspension of gold particles (60 mg per mL). Calcium chloride (50 μL of a 2.5 M solution) and spermidine free base (20 μL of a 1.0 M solution) are added to the particles. The suspension is vortexed during the addition of these solutions. After 10 minutes, the tubes are briefly centrifuged (5 sec at 15,000 rpm) and the supernatant removed. The particles are resuspended in 200 μL of absolute ethanol, centrifuged again and the supernatant removed. The ethanol rinse is performed again and the particles resuspended in a final volume of 30 μL of ethanol. An aliquot (5 μL) of the DNA-coated gold particles can be placed in the center of a Kapton™ flying disc (Bio-Rad Labs). The particles are then accelerated into the corn tissue with a Biolistic™ PDS-1000/He (Bio-Rad Instruments, Hercules Calif.), using a helium pressure of 1000 psi, a gap distance of 0.5 cm and a flying distance of 1.0 cm.

[0092] For bombardment, the embryogenic tissue is placed on filter paper over agarose-solidified N6 medium. The tissue is arranged as a thin lawn and covered a circular area of about 5 cm in diameter. The petri dish containing the tissue can be placed in the chamber of the PDS-1000/He approximately 8 cm from the stopping screen. The air in the chamber is then evacuated to a vacuum of 28 inches of Hg. The macrocarrier is accelerated with a helium shock wave using a rupture membrane that bursts when the He pressure in the shock tube reaches 1000 psi.

[0093] Seven days after bombardment the tissue can be transferred to N6 medium that contains gluphosinate (2 mg per liter) and lacks casein or proline. The tissue continues to grow slowly on this medium. After an additional 2 weeks the tissue can be transferred to fresh N6 medium containing gluphosinate. After 6 weeks, areas of about 1 cm in diameter of actively growing callus can be identified on some of the plates containing the glufosinate-supplemented medium. These calli may continue to grow when sub-cultured on the selective medium.

[0094] Plants can be regenerated from the transgenic callus by first transferring clusters of tissue to N6 medium supplemented with 0.2 mg per liter of 2,4-D. After two weeks the tissue can be transferred to regeneration medium (Fromm et al. (1990) Bio/Technology 8:833-839).

Example 6 Expression of Chimeric Genes in Dicot Cells

[0095] A seed-specific expression cassette composed of the promoter and transcription terminator from the gene encoding the β subunit of the seed storage protein phaseolin from the bean Phaseolus vulgaris (Doyle et al. (1986) J. Biol. Chem. 261:9228-9238) can be used for expression of the instant polypeptides in transformed soybean. The phaseolin cassette includes about 500 nucleotides upstream (5′) from the translation initiation codon and about 1650 nucleotides downstream (3′) from the translation stop codon of phaseolin. Between the 5′ and 3′ regions are the unique restriction endonuclease sites Nco I (which includes the ATG translation initiation codon), Sma I, Kpn I and Xba I. The entire cassette is flanked by Hind III sites.

[0096] The cDNA fragment of this gene may be generated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of the cDNA clone using appropriate oligonucleotide primers. Cloning sites can be incorporated into the oligonucleotides to provide proper orientation of the DNA fragment when inserted into the expression vector. Amplification is then performed as described above, and the isolated fragment is inserted into a pUC18 vector carrying the seed expression cassette.

[0097] Soybean embryos may then be transformed with the expression vector comprising sequences encoding the instant polypeptides. To induce somatic embryos, cotyledons, 3-5 mm in length dissected from surface sterilized, immature seeds of the soybean cultivar A2872, can be cultured in the light or dark at 26° C. on an appropriate agar medium for 6-10 weeks. Somatic embryos which produce secondary embryos are then excised and placed into a suitable liquid medium. After repeated selection for clusters of somatic embryos which multiplied as early, globular staged embryos, the suspensions are maintained as described below.

[0098] Soybean embryogenic suspension cultures can maintained in 35 mL liquid media on a rotary shaker, 150 rpm, at 26° C. with florescent lights on a 16:8 hour day/night schedule. Cultures are subcultured every two weeks by inoculating approximately 35 mg of tissue into 35 mL of liquid medium.

[0099] Soybean embryogenic suspension cultures may then be transformed by the method of particle gun bombardment (Klein et al. (1987) Nature (London) 327:70-73, U.S. Pat. No. 4,945,050). A DuPont BioliStic™ PDS 1000/HE instrument (helium retrofit) can be used for these transformations.

[0100] A selectable marker gene which can be used to facilitate soybean transformation is a chimeric gene composed of the 35S promoter from Cauliflower Mosaic Virus (Odell et al. (1985) Nature 313:810-812), the hygromycin phosphotransferase gene from plasmid pJR225 (from E. coli; Gritz et al.(1983) Gene 25:179-188) and the 3′ region of the nopaline synthase gene from the T-DNA of the Ti plasmid of Agrobacterium tumefaciens. The seed expression cassette comprising the phaseolin 5′ region, the fragment encoding the instant polypeptides and the phaseolin 3′ region can be isolated as a restriction fragment. This fragment can then be inserted into a unique restriction site of the vector carrying the marker gene.

[0101] To 50 μL of a 60 mg/mL 1 μm gold particle suspension is added (in order): 5 μL DNA (1 μg/μL), 20 μl spermidine (0.1 M), and 50 μL CaCl₂ (2.5 M). The particle preparation is then agitated for three minutes, spun in a microfuge for 10 seconds and the supernatant removed. The DNA-coated particles are then washed once in 400 μL 70% ethanol and resuspended in 40 μL of anhydrous ethanol. The DNA/particle suspension can be sonicated three times for one second each. Five μL of the DNA-coated gold particles are then loaded on each macro carrier disk.

[0102] Approximately 300-400 mg of a two-week-old suspension culture is placed in an empty 60×15 mm petri dish and the residual liquid removed from the tissue with a pipette. For each transformation experiment, approximately 5-10 plates of tissue are normally bombarded. Membrane rupture pressure is set at 1100 psi and the chamber is evacuated to a vacuum of 28 inches mercury. The tissue is placed approximately 3.5 inches away from the retaining screen and bombarded three times. Following bombardment, the tissue can be divided in half and placed back into liquid and cultured as described above.

[0103] Five to seven days post bombardment, the liquid media may be exchanged with fresh media, and eleven to twelve days post bombardment with fresh media containing 50 mg/mL hygromycin. This selective media can be refreshed weekly. Seven to eight weeks post bombardment, green, transformed tissue may be observed growing from untransformed, necrotic embryogenic clusters. Isolated green tissue is removed and inoculated into individual flasks to generate new, clonally propagated, transformed embryogenic suspension cultures. Each new line may be treated as an independent transformation event. These suspensions can then be subcultured and maintained as clusters of immature embryos or regenerated into whole plants by maturation and germination of individual somatic embryos.

Example 7 Expression of Chimeric Genes in Microbial Cells

[0104] The cDNAs encoding the instant polypeptides can be inserted into the T7 E. coli expression vector pBT430. This vector is a derivative of pET-3a (Rosenberg et al. (1987) Gene 56:125-135) which employs the bacteriophage T7 RNA polymerase/T7 promoter system. Plasmid pBT430 was constructed by first destroying the EcoR I and Hind III sites in pET-3a at their original positions. An oligonucleotide adaptor containing EcoR I and Hind III sites was inserted at the BamH I site of pET-3a. This created pET-3aM with additional unique cloning sites for insertion of genes into the expression vector. Then, the Nde I site at the position of translation initiation was converted to an Nco I site using oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis. The DNA sequence of pET-3aM in this region, 5′-CATATGG, was converted to 5′-CCCATGG in pBT430.

[0105] Plasmid DNA containing a cDNA may be appropriately digested to release a nucleic acid fragment encoding the protein. This fragment may then be purified on a 1% NuSieve GTG™ low melting agarose gel (FMC). Buffer and agarose contain 10 μg/ml ethidium bromide for visualization of the DNA fragment. The fragment can then be purified from the agarose gel by digestion with GELase™ (Epicentre Technologies) according to the manufacturer's instructions, ethanol precipitated, dried and resuspended in 20 μL of water. Appropriate oligonucleotide adapters may be ligated to the fragment using T4 DNA ligase (New England Biolabs, Beverly, Mass.). The fragment containing the ligated adapters can be purified from the excess adapters using low melting agarose as described above. The vector pBT430 is digested, dephosphorylated with alkaline phosphatase (NEB) and deproteinized with phenol/chloroform as described above. The prepared vector pBT430 and fragment can then be ligated at 16° C. for 15 hours followed by transformation into DH5 electrocompetent cells (GIBCO BRL). Transformants can be selected on agar plates containing LB media and 100 μg/mL ampicillin. Transformants containing the gene encoding the instant polypeptides are then screened for the correct orientation with respect to the T7 promoter by restriction enzyme analysis.

[0106] For high level expression, a plasmid clone with the cDNA insert in the correct orientation relative to the T7 promoter can be transformed into E. coli strain BL21 (DE3) (Studier et al. (1986) J. Mol. Biol. 189:113-130). Cultures are grown in LB medium containing ampicillin (100 mg/L) at 25° C. At an optical density at 600 nm of approximately 1, IPTG (isopropylthio-β-galactoside, the inducer) can be added to a final concentration of 0.4 mM and incubation can be continued for 3 h at 25°. Cells are then harvested by centrifugation and re-suspended in 50 μL of 50 mM Tris-HCl at pH 8.0 containing 0.1 mM DTT and 0.2 mM phenyl methylsulfonyl fluoride. A small amount of 1 mm glass beads can be added and the mixture sonicated 3 times for about 5 seconds each time with a microprobe sonicator. The mixture is centrifuged and the protein concentration of the supernatant determined. One μg of protein from the soluble fraction of the culture can be separated by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Gels can be observed for protein bands migrating at the expected molecular weight.

Example 8 Evaluating Compounds for Their Ability to Inhibit the Activity of Sterol Metabolism Enzyme

[0107] The polypeptides described herein may be produced using any number of methods known to those skilled in the art. Such methods include, but are not limited to, expression in bacteria as described in Example 7, or expression in eukaryotic cell culture, in planta, and using viral expression systems in suitably infected organisms or cell lines. The instant polypeptides may be expressed either as mature forms of the proteins as observed in vivo or as fusion proteins by covalent attachment to a variety of enzymes, proteins or affinity tags. Common fusion protein partners include glutathione S-transferase (“GST”), thioredoxin (“Trx”), maltose binding protein, and C- and/or N-terminal hexahistidine polypeptide (“(His)₆”). The fusion proteins may be engineered with a protease recognition site at the fusion point so that fusion partners can be separated by protease digestion to yield intact mature enzyme. Examples of such proteases include thrombin, enterokinase and factor Xa. However, any protease can be used which specifically cleaves the peptide connecting the fusion protein and the enzyme.

[0108] Purification of the instant polypeptides, if desired, may utilize any number of separation technologies familiar to those skilled in the art of protein purification. Examples of such methods include, but are not limited to, homogenization, filtration, centrifugation, heat denaturation, ammonium sulfate precipitation, desalting, pH precipitation, ion exchange chromatography, hydrophobic interaction chromatography and affinity chromatography, wherein the affinity ligand represents a substrate, substrate analog or inhibitor. When the instant polypeptides are expressed as fusion proteins, the purification protocol may include the use of an affinity resin which is specific for the fusion protein tag attached to the expressed enzyme or an affinity resin containing ligands which are specific for the enzyme. For example, the instant polypeptides may be expressed as a fusion protein coupled to the C-terminus of thioredoxin. In addition, a (His)₆ peptide may be engineered into the N-terminus of the fused thioredoxin moiety to afford additional opportunities for affinity purification. Other suitable affinity resins could be synthesized by linking the appropriate ligands to any suitable resin such as Sepharose-4B. In an alternate embodiment, a thioredoxin fusion protein may be eluted using dithiothreitol; however, elution may be accomplished using other reagents which interact to displace the thioredoxin from the resin. These reagents include β-mercaptoethanol or other reduced thiol. The eluted fusion protein may be subjected to further purification by traditional means as stated above, if desired. Proteolytic cleavage of the thioredoxin fusion protein and the enzyme may be accomplished after the fusion protein is purified or while the protein is still bound to the ThioBond™ affinity resin or other resin.

[0109] Crude, partially purified or purified enzyme, either alone or as a fusion protein, may be utilized in assays for the evaluation of compounds for their ability to inhibit enzymatic activation of the instant polypeptides disclosed herein. Assays may be conducted under well known experimental conditions which permit optimal enzymatic activity. For example, assays for sterol delta-7 reductase are presented by Lecain et al. (1996) J Biol Chem 271:10866-10873. Assays for sterol-C-5 desaturase are presented by Taton and Rahier (1996) Arch Biochem Biophys 325:279-288.

1 33 1 624 DNA Zea mays 1 cgggctgcag gattcggcac gaggctgctg ctcctctcct cccatctcac cacacaccgc 60 agccccagca agatcgcgcg gaggccatgg cgaaccaagc cttcctccgc cggcgccaag 120 ccgaccgcgg ctgcgccacc ggttacagtg cactcggcgc tggtcaccta cacctccatg 180 ctcgcgctcc tctccctctg cccgcccttc gtcatcctcc tgtggtacac gatggtgcac 240 gcggacggat cggtggtgcg gacttacgag cacctcaggg atcacggcgt gctcgatggg 300 ctcaaggcca tctggcccat gcccaccctc gtcgcgtgga agatatctgc ggctgtaggg 360 ctctcggaga cggccgaagg atggtggcac ttgggagcct tcggagggcc aactctgttg 420 ccgggaagtc cggtctacaa cgatatgctt acaacatgtc agtgacttga tacttacttg 480 gttgtggtgt cggtaattag cctcaatagt gatgctactt ggggagaatc tctctcatgt 540 tttggagctt gtggtcgaga tttcctaata gagggcatgt attcgacgta gctgctctgg 600 tcgctgggat gtaaatgctt cagg 624 2 74 PRT Zea mays 2 Thr Val His Ser Ala Leu Val Thr Tyr Thr Ser Met Leu Ala Leu Leu 1 5 10 15 Ser Leu Cys Pro Pro Phe Val Ile Leu Leu Trp Tyr Thr Met Val His 20 25 30 Ala Asp Gly Ser Val Val Arg Thr Tyr Glu His Leu Arg Asp His Gly 35 40 45 Val Asp Gly Leu Lys Ala Ile Trp Pro Met Pro Thr Leu Val Ala Trp 50 55 60 Lys Ile Ser Ala Ala Val Gly Leu Ser Glu 65 70 3 533 DNA Oryza sativa unsure (391) n = A, C, G, or T 3 cttacactca ctcgatctcc ttcctccact gtcgctcaga tcgacgcggg ccatggccaa 60 gcctagggcc tccgccgccg cggcgaaggc gccagcctcc acgccgccca agacggtgca 120 ctcggcgctc gtcacctacg cctccatgct ctccctcctc tccctctgcc cgcccttcgt 180 catcctcctg tggtacacga tggtgcacgc ggacggatcc gtggtgcggg cgtacgagca 240 cctccgcgag cacggggtgc tggaggggct caaggccatc tggcccatgc caaccatggc 300 cgcctggaag atatcttcgg ttcggcctct tcgaggccgc gctgcagttc tcctccccgg 360 ggaacgcttc gaagggcccg tctcccctcc nggcaagtgc ccgtctacaa aggcaaatgg 420 cttacaanca tatgcaatga cctttgataa atacctganc tgtggtgggt ttggattttt 480 aacctgcaat antatacgat cactnggggg aaatatatcc gccctgtatt tgg 533 4 67 PRT Oryza sativa 4 Lys Thr Val His Ser Ala Leu Val Thr Tyr Ala Ser Met Leu Ser Leu 1 5 10 15 Leu Ser Leu Cys Pro Pro Phe Val Ile Leu Leu Trp Tyr Thr Met Val 20 25 30 His Ala Asp Gly Ser Val Val Arg Ala Tyr Glu His Leu Arg Glu His 35 40 45 Gly Leu Glu Gly Leu Lys Ala Ile Trp Pro Met Pro Thr Met Ala Ala 50 55 60 Trp Lys Ile 65 5 587 DNA Glycine max unsure (282) n = A, C, G, or T 5 catttgcaga gagagagaga gagagagagg gaagacggtt gtggggattc gatgggggcc 60 accgttcact cgccgctagt cacttatgct tccgtcatat ctctgcttac actctgtcct 120 ccgtttgtca tacttctatg gtacaccatg actcttgctg acggatctgt ttccgagaca 180 ttccattatt taaggcagaa tgggttgcag ggtttgctac atatatggcc cacccccact 240 cccaccgcct gcaaaatcat tgcagtctat gctgcatttg angcagcact tcagcttctt 300 cttcccgggg aaaaccgttt acggccctat tctcnaaccg gcaaccgact ttctnaaaag 360 gcaaatggtc gcaaagccta ttttgtcacc ttgattactt attttgctct ctggtggttt 420 gggatattca accctacgat tgtttatcat catttgggag aaatttattc aactcccatc 480 ttcggcaact ttctcttctg tgttttcctg tacatcaagg gtcanttggn accgtctcta 540 cagattcggc caactggaaa ttatcatgat tttagggggg atggaat 587 6 161 PRT Glycine max UNSURE (77) Xaa = ANY AMINO ACID 6 Met Gly Ala Thr Val His Ser Pro Leu Val Thr Tyr Ala Ser Val Ile 1 5 10 15 Ser Leu Leu Thr Leu Cys Pro Pro Phe Val Ile Leu Leu Trp Tyr Thr 20 25 30 Met Thr Leu Ala Asp Gly Ser Val Ser Glu Thr Phe His Tyr Leu Arg 35 40 45 Gln Asn Gly Leu Gln Gly Leu Leu His Ile Trp Pro Thr Pro Thr Pro 50 55 60 Thr Ala Cys Lys Ile Ile Ala Val Tyr Ala Ala Phe Xaa Ala Ala Leu 65 70 75 80 Gln Leu Leu Leu Pro Gly Glu Asn Arg Leu Arg Pro Tyr Ser Xaa Thr 85 90 95 Gly Asn Arg Leu Ser Xaa Lys Ala Asn Gly Arg Lys Ala Tyr Phe Val 100 105 110 Thr Leu Ile Thr Tyr Phe Ala Trp Trp Phe Gly Ile Phe Asn Pro Thr 115 120 125 Ile Val Tyr His His Leu Gly Glu Ile Tyr Ser Thr Pro Ile Phe Gly 130 135 140 Asn Phe Leu Phe Cys Val Phe Leu Tyr Ile Lys Gly Xaa Leu Xaa Pro 145 150 155 160 Ser 7 527 DNA Triticum aestivum unsure (99) n = A, C, G, or T 7 gctgctgctc ctctcctccc atctcaccac acaccgcagc cccagcaaga tcgcgcggag 60 gccatggcga accaagcctt cctccgccgg cgccaagcna accgcggctg cgccaccggt 120 tacagtgcac tcggcgctgg tcacctacac ctccatgctc gcgctcctct ccctctgccc 180 gcccttcgtc atcctcctgt ggtacacgat ggtgcacgcg gacggatcgg tggtgcggac 240 ttacgagcac ctcagggatc acggcgtgct cgaggggctc aaggccatct ggcccatgcc 300 caccctcgtc gcgtggaaga tcatcttcgg cttcgggctc ttcgaggccg tcctacagct 360 gctgctccct gggaagcgct tcgaagggcc catctcgcct gccgggaacg tgccggtcta 420 caaggcaaat ggcttacaag catatgcagt gaaccttgat aacttacctt ggtttgtggt 480 ggttcggtat atttaancct gcaatagtgt atgatcactt tggggag 527 8 134 PRT Triticum aestivum UNSURE (124) Xaa = ANY AMINO ACID 8 Thr Val His Ser Ala Leu Val Thr Tyr Thr Ser Met Leu Ala Leu Leu 1 5 10 15 Ser Leu Cys Pro Pro Phe Val Ile Leu Leu Trp Tyr Thr Met Val His 20 25 30 Ala Asp Gly Ser Val Val Arg Thr Tyr Glu His Leu Arg Asp His Gly 35 40 45 Leu Glu Gly Leu Lys Ala Ile Trp Pro Met Pro Thr Leu Val Ala Trp 50 55 60 Lys Ile Ile Phe Gly Phe Gly Leu Phe Glu Ala Val Leu Gln Leu Leu 65 70 75 80 Leu Pro Gly Lys Arg Phe Glu Gly Pro Ile Ser Pro Ala Gly Asn Val 85 90 95 Pro Val Tyr Lys Ala Asn Gly Leu Gln Ala Tyr Ala Val Thr Leu Ile 100 105 110 Thr Tyr Leu Gly Leu Trp Trp Phe Gly Ile Phe Xaa Pro Ala Ile Val 115 120 125 Tyr Asp His Phe Gly Glu 130 9 1070 DNA Zea mays unsure (885) (886) n = A, C, G, or T 9 gcacgagccg cggcacaggc gcacagcggt gcctgccctg cccacacggc cacaccacca 60 cagatccatt ttaaaacccc aggcgtctct cacgcttccg ccgctttaca actccccacc 120 ccagccgatc ccaacgcaca ctgcacccag tgcggcggcc gccggcaatg gcggtgcacg 180 gcggcgacta cctgcggcgg ttcgttgctg agacggagtg gtacaacgag gtcgtcctca 240 gcgccgtggc gccaggcgac tggtggcgcg gcctgccgca cccggtgcag tcgtggatgc 300 gcaactgcgt cggcggttac ctcctctact tcatctctgg tttcctctgg tgtttcgtca 360 tctactactg gaagcgccac gcctacatcc ccaaagatgc catccccaca aatgaagcta 420 tgaagaagca aatagctgta gcatccaagg ctatgccttt ttactgtgct cttccaactt 480 tatctgagta tatgatcgag agtggatgga cccggtgtta ctttaatatc agcgaaatgg 540 gtttttctgc atacctttgt tatatggcta tgtatctcat ttttgtggag tttggaattt 600 actggatgca cagagagttg catgacataa agccactata caaacatctg catgcgaccc 660 accatattta caacaaggag aacaccttgt ctccgtttgc tggactcgcg tttcacccac 720 tggatggtat tctgcaagcg ataccgcatg tgcttgcgct cttcctcctc ccaacgcact 780 tcaggacgca catcgctctc gtgttcttgg agggcgtgtg gacgacaaac atccacgact 840 gcattcacgg caaggtatgg ccagtcatgg gcgctgggta tcacnnacat ccacatacga 900 ctttacgcca caactatggg cactacaccg tctggatgga ctggatgtnt ggtacgctcc 960 gtgagccaga tgatatccct caagaagggc tgagtcgtcg tagctgtggt tttcctacng 1020 tgctggatgt gcttggtcgg tccgtccaan ntgctctntc cgctgagcgg 1070 10 260 PRT Zea mays UNSURE (233) Xaa = ANY AMINO ACID 10 Tyr Leu Arg Arg Phe Val Ala Glu Thr Glu Trp Tyr Asn Glu Val Val 1 5 10 15 Leu Ser Ala Val Ala Pro Gly Asp Trp Trp Arg Gly Leu Pro His Pro 20 25 30 Val Gln Ser Trp Met Arg Asn Cys Val Gly Gly Tyr Leu Leu Tyr Phe 35 40 45 Ile Ser Gly Phe Leu Trp Cys Phe Val Ile Tyr Tyr Trp Lys Arg His 50 55 60 Ala Tyr Ile Pro Lys Asp Ala Ile Pro Thr Asn Glu Ala Met Lys Lys 65 70 75 80 Gln Ile Ala Val Ala Ser Lys Ala Met Pro Phe Tyr Cys Ala Leu Pro 85 90 95 Thr Leu Ser Glu Tyr Met Ile Glu Ser Gly Trp Thr Arg Cys Tyr Phe 100 105 110 Asn Ile Ser Glu Met Gly Phe Ser Ala Tyr Leu Cys Tyr Met Ala Met 115 120 125 Tyr Leu Ile Phe Val Glu Phe Gly Ile Tyr Trp Met His Arg Glu Leu 130 135 140 His Asp Ile Lys Pro Leu Tyr Lys His Leu His Ala Thr His His Ile 145 150 155 160 Tyr Asn Lys Glu Asn Thr Leu Ser Pro Phe Ala Gly Leu Ala Phe His 165 170 175 Pro Leu Asp Gly Ile Leu Gln Ala Ile Pro His Val Leu Ala Leu Phe 180 185 190 Leu Leu Pro Thr His Phe Arg Thr His Ile Ala Leu Val Phe Leu Glu 195 200 205 Gly Val Trp Thr Thr Asn Ile His Asp Cys Ile His Gly Lys Val Trp 210 215 220 Pro Val Met Gly Ala Gly Tyr His Xaa His Pro His Thr Thr Leu Arg 225 230 235 240 His Asn Tyr Gly His Tyr Thr Val Trp Met Asp Trp Met Xaa Gly Thr 245 250 255 Leu Arg Glu Pro 260 11 360 DNA Oryza sativa 11 atcactccac aaacgaaggt tgggtctccc tactctctct ctccacgctt tacaactcaa 60 cccccgcacc accaccagtc caccaccaca atcccagggc ggcgccgcgg ccggcaatgg 120 cgggcggcgg cggcgagtac ctgcgccagt tcgtcgagga gacggcctgg tacaacgaga 180 tcttcctcag ccatgtggtc ccgggcgact ggtggcgcgc cctcccccac ccgctccagt 240 cgtggctccg caacggtctc ggtggctacc tcatctactt cgcctgcggg cttcctctgg 300 tgcttcgtca tctaactact ggaagcgcca agcctacatc cccaaaagat tctataccta 360 12 58 PRT Oryza sativa 12 Tyr Leu Arg Gln Phe Val Glu Glu Thr Ala Trp Tyr Asn Glu Ile Phe 1 5 10 15 Leu Ser His Val Val Pro Gly Asp Trp Trp Arg Ala Leu Pro His Pro 20 25 30 Leu Gln Ser Trp Leu Arg Asn Gly Leu Gly Gly Tyr Leu Ile Tyr Phe 35 40 45 Ala Ala Gly Phe Leu Trp Cys Phe Val Ile 50 55 13 459 DNA Glycine max 13 ctcgtgccga attcggcacg agtctctctc actattcctt ttcttctcca cggttacttt 60 cggtggatga tggaggaccc gacaacgttg ttgaacagcg aatattcgag gctgttcggc 120 gaagacacgg acttgtacaa ccgcattgtg ttgggcgccc tattgccgca ctctgtgtgg 180 ggcccactcc cgcgcttcct ccagacgtgg cttcgcaatt acctcggcgg cgttctcctc 240 tacctcctct ctgggctctt gtggtgcttc tacatttatt attgggaagc gcaacgttca 300 tgtccccaaa gatgctattc cctctcaaaa gagcatgctc ttgcaaatat ctgttgctat 360 gaaagccatg ccgtgggtac ctttacttcc aactgtttcc ggatactggg taaaaactgg 420 ctggacaaat gctatcctag attatataat gttgggtgg 459 14 63 PRT Glycine max 14 Asn Ser Glu Tyr Ser Arg Leu Phe Gly Glu Asp Thr Asp Leu Tyr Asn 1 5 10 15 Arg Ile Val Leu Gly Ala Leu Leu Pro His Ser Val Trp Gly Pro Leu 20 25 30 Pro Arg Phe Leu Gln Thr Trp Leu Arg Asn Tyr Leu Gly Gly Val Leu 35 40 45 Leu Tyr Leu Leu Ser Gly Leu Leu Trp Cys Phe Tyr Ile Tyr Tyr 50 55 60 15 495 DNA Triticum aestivum unsure (261) n = A, C, G, or T 15 gtacaacgag atcttcctca gcgccgtcgt gccgggcggc ggcggctggt ggcgggcgct 60 gccgcacccg ctccgctcct ggctgcgcaa ctgcatcggc ggctacctcc tctacttcgc 120 caccggcttc ctctggtgct tcgtcatcta ctactggaag cgcaacgcct acatccccaa 180 agatgctgtc cctacagtag aagctatgaa gaagcaaata attgttgcat caaaggctat 240 gcctttctac tgtgctcttc ngtccgtatc tgagcacatg attganantg ggatggacac 300 ggtgtttcct tcaaaacagc aagttggntg gctatgtaca ttanctatgt gtctctatat 360 ctcatctttg tngagttcgg aattaactgn ntgcacagag atttgatgac ataaagccac 420 tatacaagca cctcatcaac caacacattn naacaaggga atacctatca cattgctgan 480 caacatcanc attgg 495 16 95 PRT Triticum aestivum UNSURE (71) Xaa = ANY AMINO ACID 16 Trp Arg Ala Leu Pro His Pro Leu Arg Ser Trp Leu Arg Asn Cys Ile 1 5 10 15 Gly Gly Tyr Leu Leu Tyr Phe Ala Thr Gly Phe Leu Trp Cys Phe Val 20 25 30 Ile Tyr Tyr Trp Lys Arg Asn Ala Tyr Ile Pro Lys Asp Ala Val Pro 35 40 45 Thr Val Glu Ala Met Lys Lys Gln Ile Ile Val Ala Ser Lys Ala Met 50 55 60 Pro Phe Tyr Cys Ala Leu Xaa Ser Val Ser Glu His Met Ile Xaa Xaa 65 70 75 80 Gly Met Asp Thr Val Phe Pro Ser Lys Gln Gln Val Gly Trp Leu 85 90 95 17 1870 DNA Oryza sativa 17 gcacgagctt acactcactc gatctccttc ctccactgtc gctcagatcg acgcgggcca 60 tggccaagcc tagggcctcc gccgccgcgg cgaaggcgcc agcctccacg ccgcccaaga 120 cggtgcactc ggcgctcgtc acctacgcct ccatgctctc cctcctctcc ctctgcccgc 180 ccttcgtcat cctcctgtgg tacacgatgg tgcacgcgga cggatccgtg gtgcgggcgt 240 acgagcacct ccgcgagcac ggggtgctgg aggggctcaa ggccatctgg cccatgccaa 300 ccatggccgc ctggaagatc atcttcggct tcggcctctt cgaggccgcg ctgcagcttc 360 tcctccccgg gaagcgcttc gagggccccg tctccccctc gggcaacgtg cccgtctaca 420 aggcaaatgg cttacaagca tatgcagtga ccttgataac atacctgagc ctgtggtggt 480 ttggaatttt taaccctgca atagtatacg atcacttggg ggaaatatac tctgctcttg 540 tatttggaag ctttgtgttc tgtatttttc tgtacataaa gggtcatctt gctccatctt 600 catctgattc tggatcctca gggaatgtga taattgattt ctactgggga atggaactat 660 atcctcgcat tggtaagcac tttgatatca aagtgttcac aaactgccgt tttgggatga 720 tgtcctgggc tgttcttgct gtaacctact gcataaagca gtatgaaatg aatggccgag 780 ttgcagattc aatgcttgtg aatactgcat tgatgttgat ctatgtcacc aagttcttct 840 ggtgggaatc tggatactgg tgcactatgg acattgctca tgatagagct ggtttctaca 900 tttgctgggg atgcttggta tgggttccat caatatacac ctctcctgga atgtaccttg 960 tcaaccaccc tgtgaatttg ggtccccagc tagcactctc aattctcctt gctggaatat 1020 tgtgcatata tataaactat gactgtgatc gtcagcgcca agaattccgt cggacaaatg 1080 ggaaatgctc aatatggggc aaagctccat ctaagattgt tgcttcctat cagactacaa 1140 atggagaaac aaaaagcagt cttctcttga cttctggatg gtggggcttg tctcgtcatt 1200 ttcactatgt tccagagatt ctatctgctt ttttctggac agttccagct ctttttgatc 1260 atttcctgcc gtacttctat gtgatctttc tgaccatatt gctgttcgac cgagctaaaa 1320 gggatgatga ccgatgctca tcaaagtatg gcaagtattg gaagatgtac tgcaacaaag 1380 taccgtgcag ggttattcct ggcatttact gaggttgttg accatgttca acaacttctc 1440 gggataaaac tcagccatgt tgtgaattcc tttctctggg acgatctact gctgtttgtg 1500 taatatgtca ttagcttgat gtatgcagga ttagattcgg gctgattggt ttcaaccttt 1560 tgagtttgct gtatccaacc ctgacacaga tgagtcaacg atgccgccaa atcgtgattt 1620 ttcttgttag ctcgctgata ggagagatga ttgcaggatc atagtttgtg tagtttgtac 1680 cttataatgg atgtttcgac ttcatttttc tgctagaagc gattaggcag cacgaaaatg 1740 aaattgtttg aggttctgta ctgctcgaat aatgttgctg caactgtatt atccatgaac 1800 tgtaataatt caaagtttgg caacaggcat ggtgattggt tctacacatt ttaaaaaaaa 1860 aaaaaaaaaa 1870 18 430 PRT Oryza sativa 18 Lys Thr Val His Ser Ala Leu Val Thr Tyr Ala Ser Met Leu Ser Leu 1 5 10 15 Leu Ser Leu Cys Pro Pro Phe Val Ile Leu Leu Trp Tyr Thr Met Val 20 25 30 His Ala Asp Gly Ser Val Val Arg Ala Tyr Glu His Leu Arg Glu His 35 40 45 Gly Leu Glu Gly Leu Lys Ala Ile Trp Pro Met Pro Thr Met Ala Ala 50 55 60 Trp Lys Ile Ile Phe Gly Phe Gly Leu Phe Glu Ala Ala Leu Gln Leu 65 70 75 80 Leu Leu Pro Gly Lys Arg Phe Glu Gly Pro Val Ser Pro Ser Gly Asn 85 90 95 Val Pro Val Tyr Lys Ala Asn Gly Leu Gln Ala Tyr Ala Val Thr Leu 100 105 110 Ile Thr Tyr Leu Ser Leu Trp Trp Phe Gly Ile Phe Asn Pro Ala Ile 115 120 125 Val Tyr Asp His Leu Gly Glu Ile Tyr Ser Ala Leu Val Phe Gly Ser 130 135 140 Phe Val Phe Cys Ile Phe Leu Tyr Ile Lys Gly His Leu Ala Pro Ser 145 150 155 160 Ser Ser Asp Ser Gly Ser Ser Gly Asn Val Ile Ile Asp Phe Tyr Trp 165 170 175 Gly Met Glu Leu Tyr Pro Arg Ile Gly Lys His Phe Asp Ile Lys Val 180 185 190 Phe Thr Asn Cys Arg Phe Gly Met Met Ser Trp Ala Val Leu Ala Val 195 200 205 Thr Tyr Cys Ile Lys Gln Tyr Glu Met Asn Gly Arg Val Ala Asp Ser 210 215 220 Met Leu Val Asn Thr Ala Leu Met Leu Ile Tyr Val Thr Lys Phe Phe 225 230 235 240 Trp Trp Glu Ser Gly Tyr Trp Cys Thr Met Asp Ile Ala His Asp Arg 245 250 255 Ala Gly Phe Tyr Ile Cys Trp Gly Cys Leu Val Trp Val Pro Ser Ile 260 265 270 Tyr Thr Ser Pro Gly Met Tyr Leu Val Asn His Pro Val Asn Leu Gly 275 280 285 Pro Gln Leu Ala Leu Ser Ile Leu Leu Ala Gly Ile Leu Cys Ile Tyr 290 295 300 Ile Asn Tyr Asp Cys Asp Arg Gln Arg Gln Glu Phe Arg Arg Thr Asn 305 310 315 320 Gly Lys Cys Ser Ile Trp Gly Lys Ala Pro Ser Lys Ile Val Ala Ser 325 330 335 Tyr Gln Thr Thr Asn Gly Glu Thr Lys Ser Ser Leu Leu Leu Thr Ser 340 345 350 Gly Trp Trp Gly Leu Ser Arg His Phe His Tyr Val Pro Glu Ile Leu 355 360 365 Ser Ala Phe Phe Trp Thr Val Pro Ala Leu Phe Asp His Phe Leu Pro 370 375 380 Tyr Phe Tyr Val Ile Phe Leu Thr Ile Leu Leu Phe Asp Arg Ala Lys 385 390 395 400 Arg Asp Asp Asp Arg Cys Ser Ser Lys Tyr Gly Lys Tyr Trp Lys Met 405 410 415 Tyr Cys Asn Lys Val Pro Cys Arg Val Ile Pro Gly Ile Tyr 420 425 430 19 1646 DNA Glycine max 19 gcacgagcat ttgcagagag agagagagag agagagggaa gacggttgtg gggattcgat 60 gggggccacc gttcactcgc cgctagtcac ttatgcttcc gtcatatctc tgcttacact 120 ctgtcctccg tttgtcatac ttctatggta caccatgact cttgctgacg gatctgtttc 180 cgagacattc cattatttaa ggcagaatgg gttgcagggt ttgctacata tatggcccac 240 ccccactccc accgcctgca aaatcattgc agtctatgct gcatttgagg cagcacttca 300 gcttcttctt cccgggaaaa ccgtttacgg ccctatttct ccaaccggcc accgacctgt 360 ctacaaggca aatggtctgc aagcctattt tgtcaccttg attacttatt ttgctctctg 420 gtggtttggg atattcaacc ctacgattgt ttatcatcat ttgggagaaa tttattcagc 480 tctcatcttc ggcagctttc tcttctgtgt tttcttgtac atcaagggtc atttggcacc 540 gtcttctaca gattctggct catctggaaa cttaatcatt gatttttact gggggatgga 600 actttatcca cgcattggaa aacattttga cataaaagtc ttcacaaact gcagatttgg 660 aatgatgtca tgggctgttc ttgcactgac ctactgcata aagcagtatg aagaaaatgg 720 aaaagtagcg gactcaatgc ttgtaaatac tgcattaatg ctggtatatg ttaccaagtt 780 tttctggtgg gaagctggat attggagcac aatggatatt gcacatgatc gagctggatt 840 ttatatttgc tggggttgct tggtgtgggt tccatctgtt tatacgtctc ctggaatgta 900 ccttgtcaac catcctgtaa atcttggcat caagctagcg ctctcaattt tagtagctgg 960 cattctttgc atatacatca actatgattg tgacaggcaa aggcaagaat ttcgtaggac 1020 aaatggaaaa ggcacagtct ggggaaaagc tccttcaaag atagaggcca catatactac 1080 tacttctggg gaaactaaaa gaagccttct tttaacctct ggatggtggg gattatctcg 1140 tcactttcat tatgtccctg aaatactggc agctttcttc tggacagtcc cagctctttt 1200 cgaacatttt ttgccttact tctacgtgat atttcttacc atccttctct ttgatcgagc 1260 aaaacgagat gatgatcgtt gcagatccaa gtatggcaag tactggaaac tatattgcga 1320 caaggtacct tacagaatca ttccaggaat atactgaaga atgattatcg aaaacggctt 1380 atctggagtc ccccaactta aaattaaaaa ccaaggacgc catctgtagc tttatattgt 1440 ttggtgcctc cttaagacac gtggtagatt agactttcgc tgagagctaa ttattgaatt 1500 attgaaccgg attttttaag ctaatgtcga gacttgattt cggctccagc tgtgttaatc 1560 tctttatcta tgacttgtga gaaaggtgca tggtttacgg gctggtgtta caaaaaaaaa 1620 aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaa 1646 20 432 PRT Glycine max 20 Met Gly Ala Thr Val His Ser Pro Leu Val Thr Tyr Ala Ser Val Ile 1 5 10 15 Ser Leu Leu Thr Leu Cys Pro Pro Phe Val Ile Leu Leu Trp Tyr Thr 20 25 30 Met Thr Leu Ala Asp Gly Ser Val Ser Glu Thr Phe His Tyr Leu Arg 35 40 45 Gln Asn Gly Leu Gln Gly Leu Leu His Ile Trp Pro Thr Pro Thr Pro 50 55 60 Thr Ala Cys Lys Ile Ile Ala Val Tyr Ala Ala Phe Glu Ala Ala Leu 65 70 75 80 Gln Leu Leu Leu Pro Gly Lys Thr Val Tyr Gly Pro Ile Ser Pro Thr 85 90 95 Gly His Arg Pro Val Tyr Lys Ala Asn Gly Leu Gln Ala Tyr Phe Val 100 105 110 Thr Leu Ile Thr Tyr Phe Ala Leu Trp Trp Phe Gly Ile Phe Asn Pro 115 120 125 Thr Ile Val Tyr His His Leu Gly Glu Ile Tyr Ser Ala Leu Ile Phe 130 135 140 Gly Ser Phe Leu Phe Cys Val Phe Leu Tyr Ile Lys Gly His Leu Ala 145 150 155 160 Pro Ser Ser Thr Asp Ser Gly Ser Ser Gly Asn Leu Ile Ile Asp Phe 165 170 175 Tyr Trp Gly Met Glu Leu Tyr Pro Arg Ile Gly Lys His Phe Asp Ile 180 185 190 Lys Val Phe Thr Asn Cys Arg Phe Gly Met Met Ser Trp Ala Val Leu 195 200 205 Ala Leu Thr Tyr Cys Ile Lys Gln Tyr Glu Glu Asn Gly Lys Val Ala 210 215 220 Asp Ser Met Leu Val Asn Thr Ala Leu Met Leu Val Tyr Val Thr Lys 225 230 235 240 Phe Phe Trp Trp Glu Ala Gly Tyr Trp Ser Thr Met Asp Ile Ala His 245 250 255 Asp Arg Ala Gly Phe Tyr Ile Cys Trp Gly Cys Leu Val Trp Val Pro 260 265 270 Ser Val Tyr Thr Ser Pro Gly Met Tyr Leu Val Asn His Pro Val Asn 275 280 285 Leu Gly Ile Lys Leu Ala Leu Ser Ile Leu Val Ala Gly Ile Leu Cys 290 295 300 Ile Tyr Ile Asn Tyr Asp Cys Asp Arg Gln Arg Gln Glu Phe Arg Arg 305 310 315 320 Thr Asn Gly Lys Gly Thr Val Trp Gly Lys Ala Pro Ser Lys Ile Glu 325 330 335 Ala Thr Tyr Thr Thr Thr Ser Gly Glu Thr Lys Arg Ser Leu Leu Leu 340 345 350 Thr Ser Gly Trp Trp Gly Leu Ser Arg His Phe His Tyr Val Pro Glu 355 360 365 Ile Leu Ala Ala Phe Phe Trp Thr Val Pro Ala Leu Phe Glu His Phe 370 375 380 Leu Pro Tyr Phe Tyr Val Ile Phe Leu Thr Ile Leu Leu Phe Asp Arg 385 390 395 400 Ala Lys Arg Asp Asp Asp Arg Cys Arg Ser Lys Tyr Gly Lys Tyr Trp 405 410 415 Lys Leu Tyr Cys Asp Lys Val Pro Tyr Arg Ile Ile Pro Gly Ile Tyr 420 425 430 21 1695 DNA Triticum aestivum 21 gcacgaggct gctgctcctc tcctcccatc tcaccacaca ccgcagcccc agcaagatcg 60 cgcggaggcc atggcgaagc ccaagccttc ctccgccggc gccaagccga ccgcggctgc 120 gccaccggtt acagtgcact cggcgctggt cacctacacc tccatgctcg cgctcctctc 180 cctctgcccg cccttcgtca tcctcctgtg gtacacgatg gtgcacgcgg acggatcggt 240 ggtgcggact tacgagcacc tcagggatca cggcgtgctc gaggggctca aggccatctg 300 gcccatgccc accctcgtcg cgtggaagat catcttcggc ttcgggctct tcgaggccgt 360 cctacagctg ctgctccctg ggaagcgctt cgaagggccc atctcgcctg ccgggaacgt 420 gccggtctac aaggcaaatg gcttacaagc atatgcagtg accttgataa cttaccttgg 480 tttgtggtgg ttcggtatat ttaaccctgc aatagtgtat gatcacttgg gggagatata 540 ctctgctctt gtttttggaa gctttgtgtt ctgtattttt ctctacataa agggccatgt 600 atttccatct tcatctgact ctggatcctc tgggaatgtg ataattgact tctactgggg 660 tatggagctg taccctcgga ttggcaagca ctttgatatc aaagtattca ccaactgtcg 720 tttcggtatg atgtcctggg ctgttcttgc cgtaacctat tgcataaagc agtatgaaat 780 gaatggcaga gttgctgatt ctatgcttgt gaatactgca cttatgttga tctatatcac 840 taagttcttt tggtgggaat ctggatattg gtgtactatg gacattgctc atgatagagc 900 tggtttctat atctgctggg gatgcttggt atgggttcca tccatatata cttcccctgg 960 aatgtacctt gtaaaccacc ctttgaattt gggcccccag ctagcactct caattcttct 1020 agctggaatg ttgtgcatat acataaacta tgattgtgac cgtcagcgcc aagaatttcg 1080 acggacgaat gggaaatgct cggtctgggg caaggctcca tctaagattg ttgcctctta 1140 tcagactaca aagggagaaa ctaaaaccag tcttctcttg acttctggat ggtggggctt 1200 gtcacgtcac ttccactatg tcccagagat actatctgca tttttctgga ctgttccagc 1260 tcttttcaat cacttcctac catacttcta cgtgatcttt ctgactatat tattgtttga 1320 ccgagcaaag agggatgatg accggtgctc atcaaagtac gggaagtact ggaagattta 1380 ctgcaacaaa gtaccataca gagtcattcc tggcatttac tgagcatctc gagttctgga 1440 cgactcttga tattaagctc aacagatgcc acgatatcca gtcttcatac cgatttgcta 1500 ctgattgtgt aatgtcgctg gtaggcttgg gctgtacgca gtattaggtg taggcaactt 1560 ggcttttggc atttaccttg tatgtgtcgt gtatctaggg ctggggcttg ctccttcagt 1620 tgttagacag tagggggtaa tctcaggggt gcaatgtact ccctccgtcc taaaataaaa 1680 gcatatctag tattt 1695 22 450 PRT Triticum aestivum 22 Met Ala Lys Pro Lys Pro Ser Ser Ala Gly Ala Lys Pro Thr Ala Ala 1 5 10 15 Ala Pro Pro Val Thr Val His Ser Ala Leu Val Thr Tyr Thr Ser Met 20 25 30 Leu Ala Leu Leu Ser Leu Cys Pro Pro Phe Val Ile Leu Leu Trp Tyr 35 40 45 Thr Met Val His Ala Asp Gly Ser Val Val Arg Thr Tyr Glu His Leu 50 55 60 Arg Asp His Gly Val Leu Glu Gly Leu Lys Ala Ile Trp Pro Met Pro 65 70 75 80 Thr Leu Val Ala Trp Lys Ile Ile Phe Gly Phe Gly Leu Phe Glu Ala 85 90 95 Val Leu Gln Leu Leu Leu Pro Gly Lys Arg Phe Glu Gly Pro Ile Ser 100 105 110 Pro Ala Gly Asn Val Pro Val Tyr Lys Ala Asn Gly Leu Gln Ala Tyr 115 120 125 Ala Val Thr Leu Ile Thr Tyr Leu Gly Leu Trp Trp Phe Gly Ile Phe 130 135 140 Asn Pro Ala Ile Val Tyr Asp His Leu Gly Glu Ile Tyr Ser Ala Leu 145 150 155 160 Val Phe Gly Ser Phe Val Phe Cys Ile Phe Leu Tyr Ile Lys Gly His 165 170 175 Val Phe Pro Ser Ser Ser Asp Ser Gly Ser Ser Gly Asn Val Ile Ile 180 185 190 Asp Phe Tyr Trp Gly Met Glu Leu Tyr Pro Arg Ile Gly Lys His Phe 195 200 205 Asp Ile Lys Val Phe Thr Asn Cys Arg Phe Gly Met Met Ser Trp Ala 210 215 220 Val Leu Ala Val Thr Tyr Cys Ile Lys Gln Tyr Glu Met Asn Gly Arg 225 230 235 240 Val Ala Asp Ser Met Leu Val Asn Thr Ala Leu Met Leu Ile Tyr Ile 245 250 255 Thr Lys Phe Phe Trp Trp Glu Ser Gly Tyr Trp Cys Thr Met Asp Ile 260 265 270 Ala His Asp Arg Ala Gly Phe Tyr Ile Cys Trp Gly Cys Leu Val Trp 275 280 285 Val Pro Ser Ile Tyr Thr Ser Pro Gly Met Tyr Leu Val Asn His Pro 290 295 300 Leu Asn Leu Gly Pro Gln Leu Ala Leu Ser Ile Leu Leu Ala Gly Met 305 310 315 320 Leu Cys Ile Tyr Ile Asn Tyr Asp Cys Asp Arg Gln Arg Gln Glu Phe 325 330 335 Arg Arg Thr Asn Gly Lys Cys Ser Val Trp Gly Lys Ala Pro Ser Lys 340 345 350 Ile Val Ala Ser Tyr Gln Thr Thr Lys Gly Glu Thr Lys Thr Ser Leu 355 360 365 Leu Leu Thr Ser Gly Trp Trp Gly Leu Ser Arg His Phe His Tyr Val 370 375 380 Pro Glu Ile Leu Ser Ala Phe Phe Trp Thr Val Pro Ala Leu Phe Asn 385 390 395 400 His Phe Leu Pro Tyr Phe Tyr Val Ile Phe Leu Thr Ile Leu Leu Phe 405 410 415 Asp Arg Ala Lys Arg Asp Asp Asp Arg Cys Ser Ser Lys Tyr Gly Lys 420 425 430 Tyr Trp Lys Ile Tyr Cys Asn Lys Val Pro Tyr Arg Val Ile Pro Gly 435 440 445 Ile Tyr 450 23 911 DNA Zea mays 23 cggacgagag ggaacgtagg ctgtgctcac gcagcctccg tgctcgtatg agtacgggca 60 attcaacgat gccgatgcca tccccacaaa tgaagctatg aagaagcaaa tagctgtagc 120 atccaaggct atgccttttt actgtgctct tccaacttta tctgagtata tgatcgagag 180 tggatggacc cggtgttact ttaatatcag cgaaatgggt ttttctgcat acctttgtta 240 tatggctatg tatctcattt ttgtggagtt tggaatttac tggatgcaca gagagttgca 300 tgacataaag ccactataca aacatctgca tgcgacccac catatttaca acaaggagaa 360 caccttgtct ccgtttgctg gactcgcgtt tcacccactg gatggtattc tgcaagcgat 420 accgcatgtg cttgcgctct tcctcctccc aacgcacttc aggacgcaca tcgctctcgt 480 gttcttggag ggcgtgtgga cgacaaacat ccacgactgc attcacggca aggtatggcc 540 agtcatgggc gctgggtatc acaccatcca ccatacgact taccgccaca actatggcca 600 ctacaccgtc tggatggact ggatgtttgg tacgctccgt gagccagatg atatcctcaa 660 gaaggcctga gttcgtcgta gctgtggttt tcctacggtg ctggatgtgc ttggtctgtt 720 ctgtccccag tgcctctaat ccgctgagcc tgttcagcgc tctgtttctg taggctttgg 780 tgtgctattt agtttgctag gttttatatg ttgtgcttat tctgtaattt agtgatgttt 840 gtctcatgac gcaacggagt tcaggacgaa taaaaagaaa gatttgctag acaaaaaaaa 900 aaaaaaaaaa a 911 24 191 PRT Zea mays 24 Asp Ala Ile Pro Thr Asn Glu Ala Met Lys Lys Gln Ile Ala Val Ala 1 5 10 15 Ser Lys Ala Met Pro Phe Tyr Cys Ala Leu Pro Thr Leu Ser Glu Tyr 20 25 30 Met Ile Glu Ser Gly Trp Thr Arg Cys Tyr Phe Asn Ile Ser Glu Met 35 40 45 Gly Phe Ser Ala Tyr Leu Cys Tyr Met Ala Met Tyr Leu Ile Phe Val 50 55 60 Glu Phe Gly Ile Tyr Trp Met His Arg Glu Leu His Asp Ile Lys Pro 65 70 75 80 Leu Tyr Lys His Leu His Ala Thr His His Ile Tyr Asn Lys Glu Asn 85 90 95 Thr Leu Ser Pro Phe Ala Gly Leu Ala Phe His Pro Leu Asp Gly Ile 100 105 110 Leu Gln Ala Ile Pro His Val Leu Ala Leu Phe Leu Leu Pro Thr His 115 120 125 Phe Arg Thr His Ile Ala Leu Val Phe Leu Glu Gly Val Trp Thr Thr 130 135 140 Asn Ile His Asp Cys Ile His Gly Lys Val Trp Pro Val Met Gly Ala 145 150 155 160 Gly Tyr His Thr Ile His His Thr Thr Tyr Arg His Asn Tyr Gly His 165 170 175 Tyr Thr Val Trp Met Asp Trp Met Phe Gly Thr Leu Arg Glu Pro 180 185 190 25 1318 DNA Oryza sativa 25 gcacgagatc actccacaaa cgaaggttgg gtctccctac tctctctctc cacgctttac 60 aactcaaccc ccgcaccacc accagtccac caccacaatc ccagggcggc gccgcggccg 120 gcaatggcgg gcggcggcgg cgagtacctg cgccagttcg tcgaggagac ggcctggtac 180 aacgagatct tcctcagcca tgtggtcccg ggcgactggt ggcgcgccct cccccacccg 240 ctccagtcgt ggctccgcaa cggcctcggc ggctacctca tctacttcgc ctgcggcttc 300 ctctggtgct tcgtcatcta ctactggaag cgccacgcct acatccccaa agattctata 360 cctacaatcg aagctatgaa gaagcaaata attgttgcat caaaggctat gcctctctat 420 tgtgcccttc caaccttatc tgagtacatg gttgagaatg gatggacaca gtgttatgtt 480 aatatcagtg aagttggttg gccaatgtac ctggtttatc tggctttata tcttatcttt 540 gttgagtttg gaatttactg gatgcacaga gagttgcatg acataaagcc attgtacaag 600 tacctgcaca cataccacca tatttacaac aaggagaata ccctatcacc atttgcagga 660 ctagcattcc atccactgga tgggattttg caagccatac cgcatgtgtt tgcgctctac 720 cttatcccaa cacacttcag gacacacatt gctctcttgt tcatagaggc cgtgtggaca 780 actaacatcc atgactgcat tcacggcaag gtttggccgg tcatgggtgc tggctatcac 840 accattcacc atacaacata ccgtcacaac tatggccact acaccgtgtg gatggactgg 900 atgttcggca cccttcgaga gccagaagat atcttgaaga aggattagga tcgaattgtt 960 aagcacggcg cgacgttcgc ctctcgtctt tgtagcagtc ggaagaaggg ggttctatgt 1020 atttatcctg ctcgatgcta tctgttatct ttcatgtacc aatgtgctgt ttcagtatgc 1080 taggtgaaca taaaagtgaa ctttagtgag ttcatcatcc ctggaatgca atggaatcga 1140 gagatatatc ctgggtaggt tccaggtgtt tgtaccattc ctgaatttct ctgtacttct 1200 ttgtgtcaaa gaacatgatg aacagttgtg gccagctttt gtacagcaat aactgtttta 1260 ttgtaactgc tgccatcctt ttgtatcaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaa 1318 26 261 PRT Oryza sativa 26 Glu Tyr Leu Arg Gln Phe Val Glu Glu Thr Ala Trp Tyr Asn Glu Ile 1 5 10 15 Phe Leu Ser His Val Val Pro Gly Asp Trp Trp Arg Ala Leu Pro His 20 25 30 Pro Leu Gln Ser Trp Leu Arg Asn Gly Leu Gly Gly Tyr Leu Ile Tyr 35 40 45 Phe Ala Cys Gly Phe Leu Trp Cys Phe Val Ile Tyr Tyr Trp Lys Arg 50 55 60 His Ala Tyr Ile Pro Lys Asp Ser Ile Pro Thr Ile Glu Ala Met Lys 65 70 75 80 Lys Gln Ile Ile Val Ala Ser Lys Ala Met Pro Leu Tyr Cys Ala Leu 85 90 95 Pro Thr Leu Ser Glu Tyr Met Val Glu Asn Gly Trp Thr Gln Cys Tyr 100 105 110 Val Asn Ile Ser Glu Val Gly Trp Pro Met Tyr Leu Val Tyr Leu Ala 115 120 125 Leu Tyr Leu Ile Phe Val Glu Phe Gly Ile Tyr Trp Met His Arg Glu 130 135 140 Leu His Asp Ile Lys Pro Leu Tyr Lys Tyr Leu His Thr Tyr His His 145 150 155 160 Ile Tyr Asn Lys Glu Asn Thr Leu Ser Pro Phe Ala Gly Leu Ala Phe 165 170 175 His Pro Leu Asp Gly Ile Leu Gln Ala Ile Pro His Val Phe Ala Leu 180 185 190 Tyr Leu Ile Pro Thr His Phe Arg Thr His Ile Ala Leu Leu Phe Ile 195 200 205 Glu Ala Val Trp Thr Thr Asn Ile His Asp Cys Ile His Gly Lys Val 210 215 220 Trp Pro Val Met Gly Ala Gly Tyr His Thr Ile His His Thr Thr Tyr 225 230 235 240 Arg His Asn Tyr Gly His Tyr Thr Val Trp Met Asp Trp Met Phe Gly 245 250 255 Thr Leu Arg Glu Pro 260 27 1447 DNA Glycine max 27 gcacgagctc gtgccgaatt cggcacgagt ctctctcact attccttttc ttctccacgg 60 ttactttcgg tggatgatgg aggacccgac aacgttgttg aacagcgaat attcgaggct 120 gttcggcgaa gacacggact tgtacaaccg cattgtgttg ggcgccctat tgccgcactc 180 tgtgtggggc ccactcccgc gcttcctcca gacgtggctt cgcaattacc tcggcggcgt 240 tctcctctac ctcctctctg ggctcttgtg gtgcttctac atttattatt ggaagcgcaa 300 cgttcatgtc cccaaagatg ctattccctc tcaaagagcc atgctcttgc aaatatctgt 360 tgctatgaaa gccatgccgt ggtactcttt acttccaact gtttcggagt acctggtaga 420 aactggctgg acaaagtgct atcctagatt atataatgtt ggttggcttg cataccttgt 480 gtatttagca atttatctaa ttattgtaga gtttggtatt tattggatgc acagagagct 540 gcacgacata aaaccgcttt acaaatatct tcatgctacc catcacatct acaataaaca 600 gaacactctc tccccttttg ctggtttggc atttcaccct cttgatggga tacttcaggc 660 attaccgcat agcctttgtt tgttttttat gccaatccat tttactacac atttggccct 720 catattcatt gagggcgttt ggactgcaaa tattcatgat tgcattcatg gaaaattgtg 780 gcctgttatg ggtgctggtt accacaccat tcatcacact acatatcggc acaactacgg 840 ccactacacc atatggatgg attggatgtt tggaactctt cgcgaccccg aggaggatgg 900 gggcaaggcg atgtgatgaa atgcagactt gcactggcag tcattggtta tcatgtttgg 960 attgttgaaa tgtcgttcct tgcatgtata gcataaatgc gtgagctata tttttctgat 1020 gtccatcaca aggtgatgtt ctatattaga gagacaaggt taaagtggag cttccctgtc 1080 tcaaatccca ttgttagtgt atgtggttga ggttattttc tttctcaaat tacgtggtag 1140 agattgagat agtaatgcag ttttctctag atgtgacaat agatggtctc cctattaatg 1200 ctttgttttg tttcattttc tttccttcta tgtttataga ataaaccaca ctctctaagg 1260 gtgtgtttgg ttgtaaagag aaaaaagatg ggaatggaag agaataggtg agaagagaaa 1320 aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa 1380 aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa 1440 aaaaaaa 1447 28 269 PRT Glycine max 28 Glu Tyr Ser Arg Leu Phe Gly Glu Asp Thr Asp Leu Tyr Asn Arg Ile 1 5 10 15 Val Leu Gly Ala Leu Leu Pro His Ser Val Trp Gly Pro Leu Pro Arg 20 25 30 Phe Leu Gln Thr Trp Leu Arg Asn Tyr Leu Gly Gly Val Leu Leu Tyr 35 40 45 Leu Leu Ser Gly Leu Leu Trp Cys Phe Tyr Ile Tyr Tyr Trp Lys Arg 50 55 60 Asn Val His Val Pro Lys Asp Ala Ile Pro Ser Gln Arg Ala Met Leu 65 70 75 80 Leu Gln Ile Ser Val Ala Met Lys Ala Met Pro Trp Tyr Ser Leu Leu 85 90 95 Pro Thr Val Ser Glu Tyr Leu Val Glu Thr Gly Trp Thr Lys Cys Tyr 100 105 110 Pro Arg Leu Tyr Asn Val Gly Trp Leu Ala Tyr Leu Val Tyr Leu Ala 115 120 125 Ile Tyr Leu Ile Ile Val Glu Phe Gly Ile Tyr Trp Met His Arg Glu 130 135 140 Leu His Asp Ile Lys Pro Leu Tyr Lys Tyr Leu His Ala Thr His His 145 150 155 160 Ile Tyr Asn Lys Gln Asn Thr Leu Ser Pro Phe Ala Gly Leu Ala Phe 165 170 175 His Pro Leu Asp Gly Ile Leu Gln Ala Leu Pro His Ser Leu Cys Leu 180 185 190 Phe Phe Met Pro Ile His Phe Thr Thr His Leu Ala Leu Ile Phe Ile 195 200 205 Glu Gly Val Trp Thr Ala Asn Ile His Asp Cys Ile His Gly Lys Leu 210 215 220 Trp Pro Val Met Gly Ala Gly Tyr His Thr Ile His His Thr Thr Tyr 225 230 235 240 Arg His Asn Tyr Gly His Tyr Thr Ile Trp Met Asp Trp Met Phe Gly 245 250 255 Thr Leu Arg Asp Pro Glu Glu Asp Gly Gly Lys Ala Met 260 265 29 1210 DNA Triticum aestivum unsure (1130) n = A, C, G, or T 29 gcacgaggta caacgagatc ttcctcagcg ccgtcgtgcc gggcggcggc ggctggtggc 60 gggcgctgcc gcacccgctc cgctcctggc tgcgcaactg catcggcggc tacctcctct 120 acttcgccac cggcttcctc tggtgcttcg tcatctacta ctggaagcgc aacgcctaca 180 tccccaaaga tgctgtccct acagtagaag ctatgaagaa gcaaataatt gttgcatcaa 240 aggctatgcc tttctactgt gctcttccgt ccgtatctga gcacatgatt gagagtggat 300 ggacacggtg tttctttcat atcagcgaag ttggttggcc tatgtacatt atctatgtgt 360 ctctatatct catctttgtg gagttcggaa tttactggat gcacagagag ttgcatgaca 420 taaagccact atacaagcac ctacatgcaa cccaccacat ttacaacaag gagaataccc 480 tatcaccatt tgctggacta gcattccatc cattggacgg gatactgcaa gccatatcgc 540 acgtgattgc tctgttcctt ctcccgatgc acttcaggac gcacattgct ctcctattca 600 tagaggcggt gtggacggca aacatccacg actgcatcca cggcaagatc tggccggtga 660 tgggcgccgg ctaccacacc atccaccaca cgacgtaccg gcacaactat ggccactaca 720 ccgtgtggat ggactggctg tttggcaccc tccgcgagcc ggaggatctc ctcaagaagg 780 actgagctcg tgcgtgcgag cgcggtcttt ccgtctctgt agcaatgtga agtgtagtag 840 aaagtgttga ggcttaaccc tcccatctgt ttattctgct gaaagatgtt tgttgtgtgt 900 ttacgacagt tagcggtgtg ctgtttgagt ctcagtctgg taggtggaaa taataaggtt 960 gtctatttag ctttgttcct ctgggatgcg gtgaaatcaa ggggcttgta cccttttcgg 1020 cagcatgatg ggtttgtttg ttgttatata catagggctt gatgctgttt ctgctcccag 1080 ggtccatagt ggtttggaga aaatataaat ccgggtggga gtacgttggn aaaaaaaaaa 1140 aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa 1200 aaaaaaaaaa 1210 30 236 PRT Triticum aestivum 30 Trp Trp Arg Ala Leu Pro His Pro Leu Arg Ser Trp Leu Arg Asn Cys 1 5 10 15 Ile Gly Gly Tyr Leu Leu Tyr Phe Ala Thr Gly Phe Leu Trp Cys Phe 20 25 30 Val Ile Tyr Tyr Trp Lys Arg Asn Ala Tyr Ile Pro Lys Asp Ala Val 35 40 45 Pro Thr Val Glu Ala Met Lys Lys Gln Ile Ile Val Ala Ser Lys Ala 50 55 60 Met Pro Phe Tyr Cys Ala Leu Pro Ser Val Ser Glu His Met Ile Glu 65 70 75 80 Ser Gly Trp Thr Arg Cys Phe Phe His Ile Ser Glu Val Gly Trp Pro 85 90 95 Met Tyr Ile Ile Tyr Val Ser Leu Tyr Leu Ile Phe Val Glu Phe Gly 100 105 110 Ile Tyr Trp Met His Arg Glu Leu His Asp Ile Lys Pro Leu Tyr Lys 115 120 125 His Leu His Ala Thr His His Ile Tyr Asn Lys Glu Asn Thr Leu Ser 130 135 140 Pro Phe Ala Gly Leu Ala Phe His Pro Leu Asp Gly Ile Leu Gln Ala 145 150 155 160 Ile Ser His Val Ile Ala Leu Phe Leu Leu Pro Met His Phe Arg Thr 165 170 175 His Ile Ala Leu Leu Phe Ile Glu Ala Val Trp Thr Ala Asn Ile His 180 185 190 Asp Cys Ile His Gly Lys Ile Trp Pro Val Met Gly Ala Gly Tyr His 195 200 205 Thr Ile His His Thr Thr Tyr Arg His Asn Tyr Gly His Tyr Thr Val 210 215 220 Trp Met Asp Trp Leu Phe Gly Thr Leu Arg Glu Pro 225 230 235 31 430 PRT Arabidopsis thaliana 31 Met Ala Glu Thr Val His Ser Pro Ile Val Thr Tyr Ala Ser Met Leu 1 5 10 15 Ser Leu Leu Ala Phe Cys Pro Pro Phe Val Ile Leu Leu Trp Tyr Thr 20 25 30 Met Val His Gln Asp Gly Ser Val Thr Gln Thr Phe Gly Phe Phe Trp 35 40 45 Glu Asn Gly Val Gln Gly Leu Ile Asn Ile Trp Pro Arg Pro Thr Leu 50 55 60 Ile Ala Trp Lys Ile Ile Phe Cys Tyr Gly Ala Phe Glu Ala Ile Leu 65 70 75 80 Gln Leu Leu Leu Pro Gly Lys Arg Val Glu Gly Pro Ile Ser Pro Ala 85 90 95 Gly Asn Arg Pro Val Tyr Lys Ala Asn Gly Leu Ala Ala Tyr Phe Val 100 105 110 Thr Leu Ala Thr His Leu Gly Leu Trp Trp Phe Gly Ile Phe Asn Pro 115 120 125 Ala Ile Val Tyr Asp His Leu Gly Glu Ile Phe Ser Ala Leu Ile Phe 130 135 140 Gly Ser Phe Ile Phe Cys Val Leu Leu Tyr Ile Lys Gly His Val Ala 145 150 155 160 Pro Ser Ser Ser Asp Ser Gly Ser Cys Gly Asn Leu Ile Ile Asp Phe 165 170 175 Tyr Trp Gly Met Glu Leu Tyr Pro Arg Ile Gly Lys Ser Phe Asp Ile 180 185 190 Lys Val Phe Thr Asn Cys Arg Phe Gly Met Met Ser Trp Ala Val Leu 195 200 205 Ala Val Thr Tyr Cys Ile Lys Gln Tyr Glu Ile Asn Gly Lys Val Ser 210 215 220 Asp Ser Met Leu Val Asn Thr Ile Leu Met Leu Val Tyr Val Thr Lys 225 230 235 240 Phe Phe Trp Trp Glu Ala Gly Tyr Trp Asn Thr Met Asp Ile Ala His 245 250 255 Asp Arg Ala Gly Phe Tyr Ile Cys Trp Gly Cys Leu Val Trp Val Pro 260 265 270 Ser Val Tyr Thr Ser Pro Gly Met Tyr Leu Val Asn His Pro Val Glu 275 280 285 Leu Gly Thr Gln Leu Ala Ile Tyr Ile Leu Val Ala Gly Ile Leu Cys 290 295 300 Ile Tyr Ile Lys Tyr Asp Cys Asp Arg Gln Arg Gln Glu Phe Arg Arg 305 310 315 320 Thr Asn Gly Lys Cys Leu Val Trp Gly Arg Ala Pro Ser Lys Ile Val 325 330 335 Ala Ser Tyr Thr Thr Thr Ser Gly Glu Thr Lys Thr Ser Leu Leu Leu 340 345 350 Thr Ser Gly Trp Trp Gly Leu Ala Arg His Phe His Tyr Val Pro Glu 355 360 365 Ile Leu Ser Ala Phe Phe Trp Thr Val Pro Ala Leu Phe Asp Asn Phe 370 375 380 Leu Ala Tyr Phe Tyr Val Leu Thr Leu Leu Leu Phe Asp Arg Ala Lys 385 390 395 400 Arg Asp Asp Asp Arg Cys Arg Ser Lys Tyr Gly Lys Tyr Trp Lys Leu 405 410 415 Tyr Cys Glu Lys Val Lys Tyr Arg Ile Ile Pro Gly Ile Tyr 420 425 430 32 271 PRT Nicotiana tabacum 32 Met Asp Asp Tyr Leu Asn Leu Phe Ile Glu Glu Thr Ser Phe Tyr Asn 1 5 10 15 Arg Val Val Leu Gly Thr Phe Leu Pro Glu Ser Trp Trp Gly Pro Leu 20 25 30 Pro His Trp Phe Gln Gly Trp Leu Arg Asn Tyr Ile Gly Gly Val Leu 35 40 45 Leu Tyr Phe Ile Ser Gly Phe Leu Trp Cys Phe Tyr Ile Tyr Arg Leu 50 55 60 Lys Arg Asn Val Tyr Ile Pro Lys Asp Ala Ile Pro Ser Asn Arg Ala 65 70 75 80 Met Leu Leu Gln Ile Gly Val Ala Met Lys Ala Met Pro Phe Tyr Cys 85 90 95 Ala Leu Pro Ser Leu Ser Glu Tyr Met Ile Val Asn Gly Trp Thr Lys 100 105 110 Cys Phe Ser Arg Ile Ser Asp Val Gly Trp Leu Ser Tyr Leu Ile Tyr 115 120 125 Met Ala Val Tyr Leu Val Ile Val Glu Phe Gly Ile Tyr Trp Met His 130 135 140 Arg Glu Leu His Asp Ile Lys Leu Leu Tyr Lys Tyr Leu His Ala Thr 145 150 155 160 His His Ile Tyr Asn Lys Gln Asn Thr Leu Ser Pro Phe Ala Gly Leu 165 170 175 Ala Phe His Pro Leu Asp Gly Ile Leu Gln Ala Val Pro His Val Val 180 185 190 Ala Leu Phe Leu Leu Pro Glu His Phe Thr Thr His Ile Ala Leu Leu 195 200 205 Phe Ile Glu Ala Ile Trp Thr Ala Asn Ile His Asp Cys Lys His Ala 210 215 220 Lys Val Trp Pro Val Met Gly Ala Gly Tyr His Thr Ile His His Thr 225 230 235 240 Thr Tyr Arg His Asn Tyr Gly His Tyr Thr Ile Trp Met Asp Trp Met 245 250 255 Phe Gly Thr Leu Arg Asp Pro Val Glu Asp Glu Val Lys Lys Met 260 265 270 33 271 PRT Nicotiana tabacum 33 Met Glu Asp Tyr Leu Lys Gln Phe Val Glu Glu Thr Ser Phe Tyr Asn 1 5 10 15 Arg Leu Val Leu Gly Thr Phe Met Pro Glu Ser Trp Trp Gly Pro Leu 20 25 30 Pro His Met Leu Gln Gly Trp Leu Arg Asn Tyr Ile Gly Gly Val Leu 35 40 45 Leu Tyr Phe Ile Ser Gly Phe Leu Trp Cys Phe Tyr Ile Tyr His Leu 50 55 60 Lys Arg Asn Val Tyr Ile Pro Lys Asp Ala Ile Pro Ser Asn Lys Ala 65 70 75 80 Met Leu Leu Gln Ile Ser Val Ala Met Lys Ala Met Pro Trp Tyr Cys 85 90 95 Ala Leu Pro Ser Leu Ser Glu Tyr Met Ile Glu Asn Gly Trp Thr Lys 100 105 110 Cys Phe Ala Arg Ile Ser Asp Val Gly Trp Leu Ser Tyr Val Ile Tyr 115 120 125 Ala Ala Ile Tyr Leu Val Ile Val Glu Phe Gly Ile Tyr Trp Met His 130 135 140 Met Glu Leu His Asp Ile Lys Pro Leu Tyr Lys Tyr Leu His Ala Thr 145 150 155 160 His His Ile Tyr Asn Lys Gln Asn Thr Leu Ser Pro Phe Ala Gly Leu 165 170 175 Ala Phe His Pro Leu Asp Gly Ile Leu Gln Ala Val Pro His Val Val 180 185 190 Ala Leu Leu Leu Val Pro Met His Phe Ser Thr His Ile Ala Leu Ile 195 200 205 Phe Leu Glu Ala Leu Trp Thr Ala Asn Ile His Asp Cys Ile His Gly 210 215 220 Lys Val Phe Pro Val Met Gly Ala Gly Tyr His Thr Ile His His Arg 225 230 235 240 Thr Tyr Arg His Asn Tyr Gly His Tyr Thr Ile Trp Met Asp Trp Met 245 250 255 Phe Gly Thr Leu Arg Asp Pro Val Glu Glu Asp Ala Lys Lys Met 260 265 270 

What is claimed is:
 1. An isolated polynucleotide comprising a first nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide of at least 30 amino acids that has at least 84% identity based on the Clustal method of alignment when compared to a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of a sterol metabolism enzyme polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:10, SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:16, SEQ ID NO:18, SEQ ID NO:20, SEQ ID NO:22, SEQ ID NO:24, SEQ ID NO:26, SEQ ID NO:28, and SEQ ID NO:30, or a second nucleotide sequence comprising the complement of the first nucleotide sequence.
 2. The isolated polynucleotide of claim 1, wherein the first nucleotide sequence consists of a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs:1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, and 29 that codes for the polypeptide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs:2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, and
 30. 3. The isolated polynucleotide of claim 1 wherein the nucleotide sequences are DNA.
 4. The isolated polynucleotide of claim 1 wherein the nucleotide sequences are RNA.
 5. A chimeric gene comprising the isolated polynucleotide of claim 1 operably linked to suitable regulatory sequences.
 6. An isolated host cell comprising the chimeric gene of claim
 5. 7. An isolated host cell comprising an isolated polynucleotide of claim 1 or claim
 3. 8. The isolated host cell of claim 7 wherein the isolated host is selected from the group consisting of yeast, bacteria, plant, and virus.
 9. A virus comprising the isolated polynucleotide of claim
 1. 10. A polypeptide of at least 30 amino acids that has at least 84% identity based on the Clustal method of alignment when compared to a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of a polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:10, SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:16, SEQ ID NO:18, SEQ ID NO:20, SEQ ID NO:22, SEQ ID NO:24, SEQ ID NO:26, SEQ ID NO:28, and SEQ ID NO:30.
 11. A method of selecting an isolated polynucleotide that affects the level of expression of a sterol metabolism enzyme polypeptide in a plant cell, the method comprising the steps of: (a) constructing an isolated polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence of at least one of 30 contiguous nucleotides derived from a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, and 29 and the complement of such nucleotide sequences; (b) introducing the isolated polynucleotide into a plant cell; and (c) measuring the level of a sterol metabolism enzyme polypeptide in the plant cell containing the polynucleotide to provide a positive selection means.
 12. The method of claim 11 wherein the isolated polynucleotide consists of a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, and 29 that codes for the polypeptide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs:2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, and
 30. 13. A method of selecting an isolated polynucleotide that affects the level of expression of a sterol metabolism enzyme polypeptide in a plant cell, the method comprising the steps of: (a) constructing an isolated polynucleotide of claim 1; (b) introducing the isolated polynucleotide into a plant cell; and (c) measuring the level of a sterol metabolism enzymepolypeptide in the plant cell containing the polynucleotide to provide a positive selection means.
 14. A method of obtaining a nucleic acid fragment encoding a sterol metabolism enzyme polypeptide comprising the steps of: (a) synthesizing an oligonucleotide primer comprising a nucleotide sequence of at least one of 30 contiguous nucleotides derived from a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs:1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, and 29 and the complement of such nucleotide sequences; and (b) amplifying a nucleic acid sequence using the oligonucleotide primer.
 15. A method of obtaining a nucleic acid fragment encoding the amino acid sequence encoding a sterol metabolism enzyme polypeptide comprising the steps of: (a) probing a cDNA or genomic library with an isolated polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence of at least one of 30 contiguous nucleotides derived from a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs:1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, and 29 and the complement of such nucleotide sequences; (b) identifying a DNA clone that hybridizes with the isolated polynucleotide; (c) isolating the identified DNA clone; and (d) sequencing the cDNA or genomic fragment that comprises the isolated DNA clone.
 16. A method for evaluating at least one compound for its ability to inhibit the activity of a sterol metabolism enzyme, the method comprising the steps of: (a) transforming a host cell with a chimeric gene comprising a nucleic acid fragment encoding a sterol metabolism enzyme, operably linked to suitable regulatory sequences; (b) growing the transformed host cell under conditions that are suitable for expression of the chimeric gene wherein expression of the chimeric gene results in production of the sterol metabolism enzyme encoded by the operably linked nucleic acid fragment in the transformed host cell; (c) optionally purifying the sterol metabolism enzyme expressed by the transformed host cell; (d) treating the sterol metabolism enzyme with a compound to be tested; and (e) determining the activity of the sterol metabolism enzyme that has been treated with a test compound, thereby selecting compounds with potential for inhibitory activity.
 17. A composition comprising the isolated polynucleotide of claim
 1. 18. A composition comprising a polypeptide of claim
 10. 19. An expression cassette comprising an isolated polynucleotide of claim 1 operably linked to a promoter.
 20. A method for positive selection of a transformed cell comprising: (a) transforming a plant cell with a chimeric gene of claim 5 or an expression cassette of claim 19; and (b) growing the transformed plant under conditions allowing expression of the polynucleotide in an amount sufficient to modify the amount of sterol in the cell to provide a positive selection means.
 21. The method of claim 20, wherein the plant cell is a monocot.
 22. The method of claim 20, wherein the plant cell is a dicot. 